DRAFT WHITE PAPER:
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG
PERSONAL INTRODUCTION FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE
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Fulfil our responsibilities towards Hong Kong in the
remaining years of British sovereignty is one of the
Government's top priorities.
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A key part of that is our responsibility to hold elections in Hong Kong in 1994 and 1995. The Joint Declaration lays down that the legislature of Hong Kong in July 1997 "shall be be fair and constituted by elections". Fair and open Elections are vital
орен if the territory is to have a credible Legislative Council,
capable of defending Hong Kong's way of life as set out in the
Joint Declaration, and the rule of law on which it depends.
We wished to hold these elections on a basis agreed with the
Chinese Government, with the aim of ensuring continuity.
Despite a real and sustained effort on our part, agreement has
not yet proved possible. If the elections are to be held in an orderly way, it is necessary to start the legislative process in Hong Kong now on the most urgent issues.
The Hong
Kong Government have therefore introduced draft legislation on
arrangements for the District Board elections in September
1994, the Municipal Council elections in March 1995, and the
two most urgent issues relating to the Legislative Council
elections in September 1995: lowering the voting age to 18, and establishing the single seat single vote method for the geographical elections. None of these are controversial. We are ready to continue discussions with the Chinese side on the remaining issues. I regret that they have responded by
breaking off the talks.
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This White Paper is intended to inform debate - in Parliament,
statememt26.8/BRIEFS/NJH
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