TNAG-2448-FCO40-3564-Elections-in-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1992 — Page 47

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Annex B

the

Message from

Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs to Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (20 January 1999)

Foreign Minister Qian appreciates the message from Foreign Secretary Mr Hurd. The Minister has taken note of Foreign Secretary's concern over the development of the political structure of Hong Kong. The Foreign Minister believes that as long as both sides set store by the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and act in the spirit of mutual understanding and

on

כרונות

dativu which

enabled our two countries to conclude the Sino-British Joint Declaration, there will be no problems between us that defy resolution. It is precisely in this spirit that the Chinese side on January 15 put forward a new proposal the development of the political structure of Hong Kong, which embodies our positive efforts and a major concession- we have made on this question. Having considered various factors, the Chinese side cannot bring itself to agree to the Right Honourable Foreign Secretary's proposal that in 1997 the proportion of the directly elected seats in the first

Legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region be set at 40%. However, if the British side agrees to the percentages Of the directly elected seats in the Legislature in 1997 and thereafter as contained in the Chinese January 15 proposal (i.e., in a Legislature of 60, 33.3% of the seats will be directly elected in 1997, 40% in 1999 and 50% in 2003), in order to achieve the convergence of the political structure before and after 1997 and the smooth transition

of government, the Chinese side is ready British

to consider the

CACCCed seats of the Legislature in 1991 be increased from 15 to 18. A common understanding between China and Britain on this question would contribute to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and enable our two countries to take a major step forward in restoring and developing our bilateral relations.

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