TNAG-2625-FCO40-3816-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1992 — Page 73

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SECRETARY OF STATE`S VISIT TO HONG KONG, 26-28 JULY 1992

BACKGROUND NOTE ON KEY ISSUES

Constitutional Issues

They

1. Appointments to ExCo and the number of directly-elected seats in the 1995 LegCo remain the two most difficult and contentious issues. The Chinese have made their views very plain on both, in an attempt to preempt our decisions. are strongly opposed to the Governor appointing United Democrats, particularly but not only Martin Lee, to ExCo; they have made it clear they will not agree to increase the

number of directly-elected seats in 1995 beyond the 20

provided for in the Basic Law.

and

2. Opinion in Hong Kong is divided on the number of directly-elected seats. Last month there was an acrimonious

debate in LegCo on a liberal motion supported by the UDHK

calling on the British and Chinese governments to accept the 1989 OMELCO consensus (that half LegCo's seats should be directly-elected in 1995). The CRC and pro-China legislators

opposed it. The Liberals only narrowly lost

(24 to 22 with 8 abstentions, including the 3 official

members).

3.

There were two other LegCo debates on constitutional

matters this month. The first was a UDHK motion calling for a

review of the relationship between LegCo and ExCo, and that

the executive should be accountable to the legislature. The

motion was carried with only one (pro-China) opposing vote.

Official members abstained. Most speakers thought that more

to ExCo, although conservative members warned against ensuing ExCo into

a mini-legco and undermining its efectiveness.

directly-elected LegCo members should be appo1urning.

con.iss.PR.SLM

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