2003
30 directly
30 funcinal
more than cp
ultimate aim
Gull direct,
CHINESE THREATS TO BREAK OFF TALKS IF WE INTRODUCE LEGISLATION?
Where pofual Basic Law
TALKS
Have seen reports of various statements by Chinese
spokesmen. Hope they will not rush to make irrevocable
decisions. There is no cause to break off talks.
I have told the Chinese Foreign Minister that we want to continue discussion of the remaining, more difficult, issues. And we have proposed a further round of talks later this month for that purpose.
We would prefer to be able to proceed on the basis of
agreement with China on the basis of the Joint Declaration.
But legislation we are introducing is uncontroversial and demonstrably urgent.
[If necessary] Do not intend to debate the negotiating record with unnamed Chinese spokesmen. We want to see the talks continue, not engage in polemics.
WHY WAS LEGCO VOTING METHOD THE MAKE-OR-BREAK ISSUE?
s.3.12.PR.JRB
We made it clear to the Chinese early on, that an interim
agreement would only be of practical use to us if it included all the urgent Legco issues as well, including the
LegCo voting method. That would then buy us a little more time to continue discussing the more complicated issues.
The single-seat, single-vote system for LegCo is widely favoured in Hong Kong: in LegCo itself and in the community. If we had left it out of an interim package, the package would probably have been amended by LegCo.
Not the only issue: we had also not reached a satisfactory understanding on the abolition of appointed membership.
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