TNAG-2450-FCO40-3567-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 149

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24.

-11-

We will need to discuss the precise arrangements

for the establishment of this Committee.

But its main

purpose will be the vital task of creating an effective

working relationship between this Council and the

Administration, so that the Government is fully aware of

Members' concerns, and that this Council is fully briefed

on the proposals which the Government will be asking

Members to support.

25.

For

The reforms I have outlined will set the stage

for the changes which are planned for the 1995

elections. I know that many people regard the key issue

as being the number of directly-elected seats. On

present plans, this will rise from 18 to 20 in 1995, and

will increase at subsequent elections until the Council

is composed entirely of directly elected members.

some time, it has been argued that we should seek to

quicken the pace of this development, and the British

Government has pledged to pursue this with the Chinese

Government. Two weeks ago, therefore, during their

meeting in New York, the Secretary of State for Foreign

and Commonwealth Affairs made the case to the Chinese

Foreign Minister for at least 30 members of the 1995

Legislative Council to be chosen by direct election.

British Government will continue to make this case with

vigour.

The

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