TNAG-2709-FCO40-3915-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-and-Par-1993 — Page 84

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Action Talen

DEBATE ON THE MOTION FOR THE FASTER ADJOURNMENT, 1 APRIL

HONG KONG

We support the Governor's proposals on democracy, and remain ready to discuss them with the Chinese Government, with the aim of reaching an understanding. But we cannot delay the legislative process in Hong Kong indefinitely. A decision will be taken on introducing the legislation into Hong Kong's Legislative Council in the light of developments.

Background

Last October the Governor announced to the Hong Kong Legislative Council his proposals for the 1994/95 elections in Hong Kong. The Government fully supports these proposals. They have been supported by people in Hong Kong, but the Chinese have reacted with strong hostility.

We have made it clear all along that we are ready to discuss these proposals with the Chinese without preconditions, in order to reach an understanding on electoral arrangements, but so far they have refused to do so.

On 12 March, after two months of intensive negotiations in Peking trying to secure an acceptable basis for talks, the Governor and his Executive Council decided to publish his proposals in the form of draft legislation. We had made it clear to China that we could not delay publication indefinitely if we were to have the legislation passed by the July recess, to enable necessary administrative arrangements for the elections to start being made.

The immediate cause of our failure to agree on talks was Chinese insistence that, contrary to the practice of the past ten years, the role of Hong Kong representatives at the talks should be downgraded. They were also unwilling to settle a date for the talks.

But publication of the draft legislation is no bar to talks. far as we are concerned, the door remains open.

As A decision on the formal introduction of the legislation into the Legislative Council will be taken after the Easter recess, in the light of developments.