TNAG-2711-FCO40-3917-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-and-Par-1993 — Page 53

DRAFT ORAL STATEMENT

HONG KONG

I will, with permission, Mr Speaker, make a statement about electoral arrangements in Hong Kong.

We have important responsibilities to fulfil in the remaining years of British sovereignty in Hong Kong. We are determined to carry out these responsibilities, with the support of this House. Part of our task will be to make arrangements for the elections to the District Boards, Municipal Councils and the Legislative Council in 1994 and 1995. The House will know

that the Governor of Hong Kong announced on 2 December that he will be introducing draft legislation to the Legislative Council later this month on the more urgent aspects of these elections.

There is no argument between Britain and China over the

principle that Hong Kong's democratic institutions should continue to develop. That is set out in the Sino-British Joint Declaration which provides that by 1 July 1997 Hong Kong's legislature will be "constituted by elections". China's Basic Law for Hong Kong after that date spells out more fully that process of development.

The issue is how these principles should be translated into practical arrangements. The proposals which the Governor put forward in October 1992 with our full support were carefully framed to be consistent with the Basic Law. We have all along wished to proceed in agreement with China, in order to assure continuity in this important aspect of Hong Kong's way of life. That is why we have put so much effort since April into achieving an agreement in the talks with China.

oralstatement25.11/BRIEFS/NJH