TNAG-2452-FCO40-3569-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 84

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Maiz azlık

Constitutional Dept

146221

MDHIAN 1506

p.w.R. Leglo

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FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 09130OZ FCO

TELNO 2871

OF 09120OZ DECEMBER 92

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD.

PEKING:

FROM GOVERNOR.

PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR.

UKREP JLG: PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY.

CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE: LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS AND TIMING.

SUMMARY

1.

GIVEN THE CONTINUING CAMPAIGN OF INTIMIDATION BY THE CHINESE, I AM NOW AIMING TO INTRODUCE DRAFT LEGISLATION ON MOST OF MY CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE INTO LEGCO ON 13 JANUARY. THE NEW BILL REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION, WHICH WILL NEED TO BE IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH, WILL BE INTRODUCED AFTER THE CHINESE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY.

DETAIL

2. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSALS IN THE PACKAGE WILL REQUIRE THE ENACTMENT OF A NEW ORDINANCE (TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION) AND AMENDMENT TO SIX EXISTING ELECTORAL AND RELATED ORDINANCES.

3

WE ARE CURRENTLY IN A DIFFICULT PERIOD WHEN WE ARE UNABLE TO TAKE FURTHER INITIATIVES BUT THE CHINESE BARRAGE AGAINST MY PROPOSALS CONTINUES UNABATED. IT IS CLEARLY IN OUR INTERESTS TO REDUCE THE LENGTH OF THIS PERIOD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. ONCE THE PROPOSALS ARE IN LEGCO, IT WILL BE EASIER TO GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS, WHICH WILL THEN BE SEEN AS COMING FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THEREFORE INDIRECTLY FROM

THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME THAT EXCO CAN CONSIDER THE DRAFT LEGISLATION IS ON 5 JANUARY. THIS WILL REQUIRE SUPER-HUMAN EFFORTS ON THE PART OF THE LAW DRAFTING TEAM, AND EVEN THEN WOULD PROBABLY ONLY BE POSSIBLE FOR THE SIX PIECES OF AMENDING LEGISLATION. THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION WILL NEED A NEW

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