TNAG-2713-FCO40-3919-Parliamentary-relations-draft-White-Paper-on-Representative--1993 — Page 46

b) First phase of talks: April- May 1993 (Rounds 1-3)

23. The British side(ii) explained that the talks would need to

be completed in good time so that orderly arrangements could be

made to hold the elections in Hong Kong in 1994 and 1995;

explained the Governor's proposals; noted that the Chinese side

had criticised them but had not put forward ideas of their own;

and sought specific Chinese proposals so that the talks could move rapidly to discussion of practical electoral arrangements; and emphasised the importance of acceptable objective criteria to

ensure a through train for the Legislative Council.

24. The British side also sought assurances from the Chinese

side on three further points:

Consultation on the Hong Kong membership of the Preparatory Committee. Under the Basic Law, this

Committee will be established in 1996 and will

prescribe the specific method for forming the first government and the first Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Fifty percent of its membership will come from Hong Kong. The British side proposed that there should be consultation between the two sides about the Hong Kong

membership in the same way as there was consultation

about the membership of the Airport Consultative

Committee.

(ii)

The term 'the British side' is used for convenience. At all stages the position put forward

in the talks by Sir Robin McLaren and (for Rounds 16-17) by Mr Christopher Hum as British

Representatives, was agreed between Her Majesty's Government and the Governor, acting on the

advice of his Executive Council.

statememt 26.8/BRIEFS/NJH

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