TNAG-2455-FCO40-3576-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-presentation-1992 — Page 29

CONFIDENTIAL

MD HO

107326

1860

IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY: HE WILL STEP DOWN AS PRESIDENT OF LEGCO AND MAKE HIMSELF AVAILABLE REGULARLY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THERE. A NEW GOVERNMENT/LEGCO BUSINESS COMMITTEE WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO ENABLE THE ADMINISTRATION TO DISCUSS THE HANDLING OF ITS

LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCIAL PROGRAMMES WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF LEGCO.

5. SECOND, THERE ARE THE CHANGES THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR THE 1995 LEGCO ELECTIONS. I FIND WIDESPREAD SUPPORT IN HONG KONG

FOR A GREATER MEASURE OF DEMOCRACY BUT AT THE SAME TIME A STRONG HOPE THAT WHAT IS PUT IN PLACE IN 1995 CAN SURVIVE

BEYOND 1997. THAT MEANS MAKING CHANGES COMPATIBLE AS FAR AS

POSSIBLE WITH THE BASIC LAW.

6.

THE SIMPLEST MEANS OF ENHANCING DEMOCRACY WOULD BE FOR THE

CHINESE SIDE TO AGREE A CHANGE IN THE BASIC LAW TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS BEYOND THE 20 IT NOW ENVISAGES. BUT THE CHINESE POSITION REMAINS THAT THE BASIC LAW CANNOT BE CHANGED BEFORE 1997. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THE CASE FOR MORE DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN 1995 WITH VIGOUR. BUT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY WAY OF BUILDING UP DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG. THE GOVERNOR WILL THEREFORE BE EXPLORING IN PARALLEL HOW TO DEVELOP HONG

KONG'S REPRESENTATIVE INSTITUTIONS TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT WITHIN

THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW.

7.

THE GOVERNOR'S PACKAGE ADDS UP TO A SUBSTANTIAL

INCREASE IN THE DEGREE OF DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG. THE KEY

POINTS INCLUDE LOWERING THE VOTING AGE TO 18: MAKING THE DISTRICT

BOARDS FULLY DIRECTLY ELECTED: GREATLY EXPANDING THE ELECTORATE FOR THE LEGCO FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE WORKING POPULATION: AND ENSURING THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE ELECTION COMMITTEE WHO WILL ELECT 10 LEGCO MEMBERS SHOULD THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN ELECTED (FOR EXAMPLE THE COMMITTEE COULD DRAW ALL OR MOST OF ITS MEMBERS FROM THE DIRECTLY-ELECTED DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS). IN THIS WAY, EVERY LEVEL OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT UP TO AND INCLUDING LEGCO WILL HAVE BEEN FORMED ON THE BASIS OF BROADLY BASED, FAIR AND OPEN ELECTIONS.

8 =

TO MAXIMISE THE CHANCES OF CONTINUITY IN 1997, WE SHALL BE DISCUSSING THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE, STARTING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO PEKING FROM 21-23 OCTOBER. ON THESE ISSUES, THEREFORE, THE GOVERNOR WILL BE

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