TNAG-2448-FCO40-3564-Elections-in-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1992 — Page 64

28-OCT-1992

17:39

A.G.'S CHAMBERS

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2

3.

With

the

regard to separate vote counting, the Chinese side believes that this voting method will help

to perform its check-and-balance

general interests of the various

The

legislative council

function SO that the

social strata in Hong Kong could be protected, thereby contributing to Hong Kong's stability and prosperity. detailed procedures for separate vote counting will be deliberated and decided upon at the forthcoming ninth

plenary session of the Drafting Committee. The Chinese side has по intention to insist on separate vote counting if the British side is not going to introduce it in Hong

Kong's Legislative Council in 1995. The introduction of this voting method by the time of the first session of the Legislative Council of the SAR in 1997 will not affect the convergence of the political systems.

4.

With regard to the limit to the number of seats in the Legislative Council of the SAR for those permanent Hong

Kong residents who are not Chinese nationals or who have a right of abode in foreign countries, China's position is

already very clear.

The Basic Law must include a

stipulation to limit the number of seats which could be

held by the following two categories Of people in the Legislative Council in the SAR : 1) Foreigners, ΟΙ

pexmanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative

Region who are not Chinese nationals; 2) Chinese citizens who are permanent residents Of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and have a right of abode in foreign countries. The measure to include the second category of

people is adopted solely because the British side has unilaterally announced to grant "full British citizenship"

The British statement that no

to 50,000 families.

nationality restrictions have been placed on membership of

the Hong Kong Legislative

Council is not consistent with

the historical facts of Hong Kong.

The ninth plenary

session of the BLDC will make the decision on the extent of

the said limit.

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