TNAG-2716-FCO40-3922-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1993 — Page 112

Third, a further message from Mr Hurd to Mr Qian of 31 January 1990. Mr Hurd drew attention to the real concern

and disappointment in Hong Kong over the outcome of the recently held Basic Law Drafting Committee Special Group meeting. He pointed out that there were two differences

between the two sides: the number of directly-elected seats and the question of compatibility of systems before and after 1997. He pressed again for an increase in directly-elected seats. He emphasised the importance of ensuring that any Grand Electoral College or Election Committee used to elect members of the legislature should be a fully representative body constituted in an open way. He went on to say that it would be important that the details of the composition and constitution of any Grand Electoral College were made clear to Hong Kong people to reassure them about the nature of their proposed future political system.

- Fourth, a reply from Mr Qian of 3 February 1990. He regretted that the British side had failed to make any

concessions. He turned down the offer which had been made by

Mr Hurd for British officials to travel to Peking for further discussion of these matters.

-

Fifth, three papers which were handed to the Chinese side on

6 February 1990 on the Election Committee, on voting

-

procedures for the SAR Legislature, and on the Chinese Nationality Requirements for the SAR Legislature.

(A) In the paper on the Election Committee, the British side put forward five principles which could best form the framework for its establishment:

(i) The committee should not itself be an institution of

Government.

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