message
anuary.
.3
Le
12 SWO breas
and the compa
S
have exp ained
-317 ifferences
between
number or directly elected seats,
L:12 systems
Decore and after 1997.
не
re
Suc
there
3102
42
1991.
-3 3
300
Far
apart on directly elected seats,
real problem over the number the Chinese
nas in mind for 1997. I have explained the pressures
introduce 33 directly elected seats 111
:nder
in my message of
Chinese side were prepared
percent)
18 January, I said that if the
to provide for 24 seats (40
in 1997, we Would be willing to restrict the
วา 1991 to 18 (30
difficult for us to do
number
number
beyond 23 in 1997.
percent).
It
this unless you can
will be very
increase the
7.
As
regards compatibility, I have three concerns. Firstly on voting arrangements, people in Hong Kong attach Importance to a straightforward system, of the kind which is now used in the Legislative Council. Reports about the introduction of a new differential voting system have caused Widespread concern in Hong Kong, especially among moderate sensible opinion. Apart from its unfamiliarity, people fear that such a system would impede the legislative process without producing any corresponding benefits.
8.
Secondly, I emphasised in my message of 18 January
the Importance we attach to ensuring that any Grand Electoral College ΟΙ Election Committee used to elect members of the Legislature should be a fully representative body constituted in an open way. I await your assurance that this is what the Chinese side have in mind. It will
also be important that the details of the composition and
constitution of
any Grand Electoral College are made clear
to Hong Kong people to reassure them about the nature of
their proposed future
political
system.
We could then
consider introducing similar arrangements in 1995, thereby ensuring continuity. This would be the subject of closer
consultation between our two sides.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.