Annex
Message from
Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs to
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(20 January 1998)
Fore
ne
Forcign
Minister Qian appreciates the message from
Secretary Mr Hurd. The Minister has taken note ci
Foreign Secretary's concern over the development of the
structure of Hong Kong.
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The Foreign
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both sides set store by the
and stability of Hong Kong and act in the spirit
accommodation which
I mutual understanding and mutual
the
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countries
to
enabled Sur
conclude the Sino-British
Joint Ceclaration, there will be no problems between us
inat jefy tesolution. It is precisely in this spirit that
ainese side on January 15 put forward a new proposal the development of the political structure of Hong Kong,
which embodies our positive efforts and a major concession
We have made on this question. Having considered various factors, the Chinese side cannot bring itself to agree to
the Right Honourable
Foreign Secretary's proposal that in
1997 the proportion of the directly elected seats in the
first Legislature of
the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region Se set at 40%. However, if the British side agrees
20 the percentages of the directly elected seats in the
Cegislature in 1997 and thereafter as contained in the
Chinese January 15 proposal (i.e., in a Legislature of 60, 33.3% of the seats will be directly elected in 1997, 40% in 1999 and 50% in 2003), in order to achieve the convergence of the political
smooth transition
to
structure before and after 1997 and the of government, the Chinese side is ready consider the British suggestion that the number of
directly elected seats of the Legislature in 1991 be
increased from 15 to 18. A common understanding between China and Britain on this question would contribute to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and enable our two
countries to take a major step forward in restoring and developing our bilateral relations.
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