TNAG-2490-FCO40-3622-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1992 — Page 128

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION

HOUSE OF COMMONS: FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

44

R PRU USE ONLY

TE TABLED:

HEAD OF

HKD

Please submit:

08/12/92

!ITE O.P. DATE

a draft answer and background

to Parliamentary Relations Unit before

FOR

14/12/92

PRIORITY

QUESTION

RIAL NO:

1376

the

) PS/

finister)

r approval by

OON

PQ s

Reply

Copy to:

Private Secretary

PS/

(Minister)

Parliamentary Clerk

NOON

11/12/92

WRITTEN ANSWER ON

14/12/92

To SIR 1FHSMAStaRNPPat HAZEL GROVE] [C]

ate:

when he first informed the Chinese Government of its view that the Basic Law cannot be changed; and what was his response.

FOR ANSWER BY

(Minister)

ANSWER

1

The Chinese Government made a public statement at the end of May this year that in its view the Basic Law including provisions for the first SAR legislature, cannot be changed before 1997. Our position on the pace of democra for Hong Kong was made clear once again to the Chinese sir during the Secretary of State s meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister in New York on 25 September this year. Whilst we would still wish to see more directly elected seats in the Legislative Council, the Governor of Hong Kong has made alternative proposals which are entirely within the terms of the Joint Declaration and Basic Law.

,

НКС

:

Authorised

Johan

Ass (Head of Dept)