the basis of the composition and ratio set out in
Annex I of the Basic Law.
On the functional constituencies, the electorates should be of substantial size. Experience has shown that corporate voting can lead to an individual having control over several votes in functional constituencies. With very small electorates, there was a risk of corruption, of which there had been a recent case in Hong Kong. The British side therefore proposed to maintain the gradual development of the existing 21 constituencies, and would be willing to make proposals for 9 new constituencies taking account of Chinese ideas and based (as they had proposed) on organisations.
The Foreign Secretary also underlined that the whole purpose of holding the talks was to achieve continuity, and that it was therefore essential to reach agreement on objective criteria for the through train. It was agreed that both sides should make efforts to speed up the progress in the talks.
42. In rounds eight and nine, the British side fulfilled the Foreign Secretary's undertaking by putting forward revised proposals on the Election Committee and the functional
constituencies, even though the Chinese side still maintained their refusal to discuss objective criteria for the through train. The details of the revised proposals are set out in Part III of this White Paper.
43. In response, the Chinese side stuck to their existing position on the Election Committee and the functional
constituencies.
Part III explains why these were unacceptable. They also set out their position on three other issues:
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