democratisation with the equally strong interest in continuity
of the political system in Hong Kong before and after 1997. The
draft of the Basic Law at that time provided for only 15 directly-elected seats in 1997. Her Majesty's Government took up this matter in a series of tough discussions with the Chinese
Government in late 1989 and early 1990. The British side
stressed the importance of responding to the clear desire in
Hong Kong for a faster pace of democratic development by
increasing the number of directly-elected members of the Legislative Council beyond that envisaged in the draft Basic
Law. It was in this context that a series of messages were
exchanged between the two Foreign Ministers in late 1989 and
early 1990. These exchanges were made public in October 1992.
11. The Chinese side eventually agreed to increase to 20 the
the number of directly-elected seats prescribed in the Basic Law
for the first legislature of the Hong Kong SAR. This was
reflected in the final version of the Basic Law published in
April 1990. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary confirmed to
the House in February 1990 that the Legislative Council would
therefore have 18 directly-elected seats in 1991 and at least 20
in 1995. He also said that Her Majesty's Government would
continue to press the case for a faster pace of democratisation.
12. The first direct elections, for these 18 seats in the
Legislative Council, were held in September 1991. All 18 seats
were contested. The turn-out rate was 39% of the registered
electorate of 1.9 million, higher than for any previous elections in Hong Kong. The United Democrats of Hong Kong and
others who had campaigned hard for more democracy won 16 of
the 18 seats and over 58% of the vote, a clear expression of
the community's interest in greater democracy.
10
statememt26.8/BRIEFS/NJH
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.