3PT
JAMES LEE
FOREIGN SECRETARY
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DOORSTEP INTERVIEW 7 OCTOBER 1992
- 2
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3484575048 =.03
GATWICK AIRPORT
FOREIGN SECRETARY:
It is the same question of a balance. What Chris Fatten has
wanted to do, with our full support, is move forward towards
greater democracy in Hong Kong. The simplest way of doing that
would be to increase the number of directly-elected seats and I
put that to the Chinese Foreign Minister when I met him in New
York last week. That would mean changing the Chinese Basic Law if
it was to continue after 1997. They are very reluctant to do that
so what Chris Patten has done is produce a parallel approach, an
alternative approach, which is what he has outlined in Hong Kong
today and what he will pursue when he goes to Peking to discuss
this further with the Chinese later this month.
INTERVIEWER:
It is a series of very technical democratic changes but does it
really improve democracy for the people of Hong Kong?
FOREIGN SECRETARY:
It certainly does. It increases very substantially the number of
people who have a direct say or an indirect say in the Legislative
Council which passes the legislation so I think it will in Hong
Kong be regarded as very significant and very important.
INTERVIEWER:
What is the Chinese response going to be? You mentioned you met
the Chinese Foreign Minister.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.