TNAG-2448-FCO40-3564-Elections-in-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1992 — Page 69

28-OCT-1992 17:42

A.G.'S CHAMBERS

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+852 877 2130

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have entered into

discussions with the Chinese Government about the provisions relating to the political structure after 1997

be included in the Basic Law for the future Hong Kong Special Administration Region.

to

In those discussions we have pressed the case for a faster process of democratisation in Hong Kong than that set out in the second draft of the Basic Law. We have also made it clear that the new proposals which emerged from the meetings of the Basic Law Drafting Committee, which took place in Canton in December and January, would not command general support in Hong Kong.

We have stressed the importance not only of achieving a steady progression in of directly elected seats, but also of arrangements for the political system as a whole which Hong Kong people will find acceptable.

the

number

meeting of the Basic Law

The final plenary Drafting Committee has been taking place in Peking this week. The meeting has not yet finished, and the outcome is not yet certain. We shall want to study carefully the draft which emerges from that meeting. There are, however, indications that the draft will provide for 20 directly elected seats in 1997 and for further increases to 24 seats in 1999 and 30 seats in 2003. This rate of progress would not be as rapid as many people in Hong Kong, or we ourselves, would have liked to see, but it would be a considerable improvement on the position reached in December. It would reflect a willingness by the Basic Law drafters to respond to the representations which we and others in Hong Kong have been making.