TNAG-2715-FCO40-3921-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1993 — Page 41

CHINESE ACCUSATIONS THAT OUR PROPOSALS ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE

JOINT DECLARATION, THE BASIC LAW AND THE 1990 EXCHANGES

The

The Joint Declaration says clearly that by 1997 the

Legislative Council should be "constituted by elections".

present Council has 18 appointed members. The Governor was

therefore obliged under the Joint Declaration to make provisions

for a fully elected legislature in 1995, the last elections

under British administration.

The Basic Law - a Chinese law, not a bilateral agreement

only sets out the composition of the 1997 Legislative Council

(20 directly elected, 30 elected from Functional Constituencies,

10 elected by an Executive Committee). But, it does not go into any detail about the 1995 election arrangements.

A number of the issues were discussed in the 1990 exchanges.

These messages were not cast in the form of a binding international agreement. The exchanges were in any case inconclusive as regards arrangements for the 1994/95 elections. Further discussions were therefore required, which are now

underway.

AIRPORT

Hope agreement on overall financing arrangements can be reached with the Chinese soon. All agree Hong Kong needs a new

airport. In China's interests as well as Hong Kong's that Hong

Kong remains an important international trade and financial

centre.

Meanwhile the Hong Kong Government is maintaining momentum on

the airport to avoid expensive slippages and cost increases. Opening of the airport is still scheduled for June 1997.

back.comm.PR

SLM