TNAG-2714-FCO40-3920-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1993 — Page 132

12.

The direct elections for these 18 seats in the September

1991 Legislative Council elections marked an important step forward in the development of democracy in Hong Kong. There was a

turn-out rate of 39% of registered voters and all 18 seats were contested. The United Democrats of Hong Kong (UDHK), led by

Mr Martin Lee, and their other liberal allies, fought a lively and successful campaign based on a call for more democracy. The UDHK

won 12 of the 18 seats and 45% of the vote. Four of the other

remaining seats went to other liberal candidates. Most of the

successful candidates in the indirect, functional constituency,

elections (21 seats) were without party political affiliation. The remaining 21 members of the present Legislative Council consist of 18 appointed by the Governor from a variety of

backgrounds and 3 officials, who are ex-officio members.

13.

The Committee proposed that full democracy should be

introduced before 1997 but that this should be done in a way that

was consistent with maintaining a necessary degree of continuity

(3.10). The Government's aim has been to establish a system which

would respond to Hong Kong people's desire for more democracy, but

which would also be capable of enduring and developing beyond

1997. We have therefore sought to discuss the electoral arrangements in Hong Kong with the Chinese Government.

14.

The simplest way to extend democracy in Hong Kong would be

for the Chinese authorities to agree to increase the number of

directly-elected seats in the Legislative Council laid down in the

Basic Law. We have put this to the Chinese side, most recently

when the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary met the Chinese

Foreign Minister in New York in September 1992. But, as noted above, the Chinese position remains that the Basic Law cannot be

changed.

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