TNAG-2713-FCO40-3919-Parliamentary-relations-draft-White-Paper-on-Representative--1993 — Page 78

mou.PR.JRB

ANNEX 4

DRAFT MOU HANDED OVER TO THE CHINESE SIDE ON 3 NOVEMBER 1993

The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain

and Northern Ireland and the Government of the People's Republic

of China have reached the following understandings concerning

arrangements for elections due to be held in Hong Kong in 1994

and 1995.

(1) The British side confirm that Hong Kong's District Boards

and Municipal Councils are not organs of political power and

that, consistent with the objective of convergence with Article

97 of the Basic Law, they will not seek to alter their nature or

essential functions.

(2) Draft legislation will be introduced to amend those

provisions of the electoral legislation for the District Boards, Municipal Councils and Legislative Council which prevent the participation in those bodies of members of parliaments or congresses and salaried officials from countries and regions outside Hong Kong, with the purpose of removing the restrictions

on deputies to People's Congresses of the People's Republic of China while retaining the existing restrictions regarding other

countries and regions.

(3) The two sides have reached a common view that the minimum

voting age in elections to the District Boards, Municipal

Councils and Legislative Council should be reduced from 21 years

to 18 years.

Draft legislation will be introduced to this

effect.

(4) The two sides have reached a common view that the "Single

seat, Single vote" method should be used in geographical

constituency elections to the District Boards, Municipal Councils and Legislative Council. Draft legislation will be