DRAFT WHITE PAPER:
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG
PERSONAL INTRODUCTION FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Fulfilling our responsibilities towards Hong Kong in the remaining years of British sovereignty is one of the Government's top priorities.
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 constituted by elections". Fair and open elections are vital 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 proved possible. We were not prepared to compromise the principle that elections must be open and fair. If the elections are to be held in an orderly way, it is necessary to start now the legislative process in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government have therefore begun consultations with the Legislative Council on the contents of draft electoral legislation. It will be for the Legislative Council to take the decisions on the final shape of the legislation.
This White Paper is intended to inform debate -
in Parliament,
in the Legislative Council and more widely on these important issues. It gives a full account of what our talks with China have been about, why agreement has not been possible, and how we now intend to proceed.
statememt26.8/BRIEFS/NJH
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