02 DEC '92 11:06 M & 00 3 LOMBARD ST.
P.3/6
Well not quite. Hong Kong has elections in 1995 and the
arrangements under which they are held remain to be settled.
Because they will be the last elections before 1997, they will set
the pattern for the future.
Chris Patten has made proposals which respond to Hong
Kong's wish to make the next elections more representative than
earlier ones. They are much less far-reaching than many people
would like to see. He has avoided reopening the issue of directly-
elected seats, which has aiready been agreed with China. And he
has stressed that they are genuinely proposals not a blue-print.
He wants to hear the views of others, in Hong Kong and in China.
He is ready to modify his plans to take account of these views.
Above all his plan is not intended as a challenge to China.
After all Chris Patten's political reputation has not been based on
confrontation. He is a natural reconciler.
But the Chinese have reacted angrily. They dislike the
proposals, arguing that they conflict with understandings reached
with Britain and with their own Basic Law for Hong Kong after
1997. They demand that the proposals be withdrawn. They
refuse to discuss them.
Most of all they object to not having been consulted in
advance. To demonstrate their anger, they have withheld
agreement to work going ahead on Hong Kong's new airport.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.