TNAG-2718-FCO40-3924-Hong-Kong-electoral-provisions-and-arrangements-1993 — Page 140

SECRET

SECRET

HKB 011/7

2 MAY 1907

RECE

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 25140OZ FCO

TELNO 842

OF 25110OZ MAY 93

PEKING

INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

INFO DESKBY 26020OZ

pa. Flections

103404

MDHIAN 2089

TOP COPY Q DIST?

PEKING TELNO 730 AND OUR TELNO 836: TALKS WITH THE CHINESE:

BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION (BEC) BILL.

1

·

27

I ENDORSE THE LINE PROPOSED BY SIR R MCLAREN ON THE INCREASE

IN THE NUMBER OF ELECTED D B SEATS.

2. WE HAVE NOW CHECKED FURTHER THE POINT IN PARA 3 OF MY TUR. OUR LEGAL ADVISERS TELL US THAT, DESPITE SOME POTENTIAL AMBIGUITY IN THE LEGCO STANDING ORDERS, THE ADMINISTRATION COULD ALMOST CERTAINLY WITHDRAW OR POSTPONE THE BEC BILL, EVEN AT THIS LATE STAGE IF IT WERE DETERMINED TO DO SO. WE CANNOT THEREFORE ASSE TO THE CHINESE THAT THE TIMING IS NOW ENTIRELY IN LEGCO'S HANDS.

PATTEN

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

.HK POLICY

HKD

PUSD

FED

65

DISTRIBUTION

72

NTCD

PLANNERS

RAD

PS

LEGAL ADVISERS//MS

LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS

LEGAL ADVISERS//MR NEWS D

BARRETT

GILES

PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES

MR HUM

ADDITIONAL

7

CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO)

CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES

NNNN

CAOFF//MR SIBSON

PAGE

SECRET

1

PS NO 10.