TNAG-2554-FCO40-3729-International-Covenant-on-Civil-and-Political-Rights-(ICCPR)-1992 — Page 12

CONFIDENTIAL

choose how they wished to exercise their voting rights - either in a geographical constituency or in a functional constituency. Ian Deane says in the last sentence of paragraph 10 of his Opinion that a vote in a functional constituency does not carry the same weight as a vote in a geographical constituency. That may be true, but, as I have said, I do not believe it is relevant to the question whether the requirement on voters to choose what kind of constituency they wish to vote in is consistent with Article 25 (b). One has to compare like with like.

5.

I took the opportunity of being in the FCO to talk about this to the Deputy Legal Adviser, Kevin Chamberlain. He would not wish to dissent from the above.

I am back in Hong Kong in the afternoon of 5 January. should be pleased to advise further then if the need arises.

6.

Sand

DM Edwards

I

CONFIDENTIAL