TNAG-2718-FCO40-3924-Hong-Kong-electoral-provisions-and-arrangements-1993 — Page 154

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HKB 011/7

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2o MAY

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056573 MDHIAN 0945

p.a. Flections

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FM HONG KONG

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

INDEX

PA

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

dich

TELNO 759

OF 141023Z MAY 93

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

TALKS WITH THE CHINESE ON ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS: TIMETABLE

1. WE HAVE STATED PUBLICLY THAT OUR AIM IS TO ENACT ALL OF THE ELECTORAL LEGISLATION BY THE TIME LEGCO RISES AT THE END OF JULY. THIS TIMETABLE IS LOOKING INCREASINGLY UNREALISTIC, GIVEN THE PACE OF THE TALKS. THIS TELEGRAM CONSIDERS WHETHER OR NOT THERE WOULD BE ADVANTAGE IN TRYING TO DECOUPLE THE 1994 FROM THE 1995 LEGISLATION AND INTRODUCE IT INTO LEGCO IN JUNE OR JULY. IT HIGHLIGHTS A PROBLEM RELATING TO THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS IF WE DO NOT/NOT DO SO, BUT SUGGESTS A WAY ROUND WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO SLIP THE JULY DEADLINE.

POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS

2. IF THE CHINESE WERE TO ACCEPT IN THE NEXT MONTH THAT WE SHOULD DECOUPLE THE LEGISLATION NECESSARY FOR THE 1994 ELECTIONS FROM THAT FOR THE 1995 ELECTIONS, IT WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY RELIEVE PRESSURE IN LEGCO AND MIGHT PREVENT FRACTIOUSNESS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY (ALTHOUGH WE DOUBT IF THE CHINESE WILL IN ANY CASE RELEASE THE AIRPORT AND POSSIBLY ALSO CT9 UNTIL THERE IS AN

OVERALL AGREEMENT).

3. HOWEVER, IF WE ARE THE DEMANDEURS FOR DECOUPLING, WHICH WE WOULD BE, THE MORE LIKELY SCENARIO IS THAT THE CHINESE WILL INSIST THAT WE SHOULD DROP THE PROPOSAL TO ABOLISH APPOINTED SEATS FOR THE DISTRICT BOARDS (DBS) AND MUNICIPAL COUNCILS (MCS). WHILE THEY MIGHT BE PREPARED TO ABANDON THIS DEMAND AS PART OF AN OVERALL PACKAGE, THEY COULD HARDLY CEDE IT IN A FIRST STAGE WITHOUT GETTING ANYTHING IN RETURN. IF WE WENT AHEAD WITH THE 1994 LEGISLATION UNILATERALLY I AM NOT CERTAIN THAT THE CHINESE WOULD CALL OFF ANY FURTHER TALKS THERE WOULD THEN BE NO POSSIBILITY OF THEM GAINING AGREED CONCESSIONS ON ISSUES WHICH ARE OF GREATER IMPORTANCE FOR THEM. BUT EITHER WAY, THERE WOULD BE A CONSIDERABLE RISK THAT IN THE FACE OF CHINESE OPPOSITION WE MIGHT NOT SECURE PASSAGE IN LEGCO OF THE PROPOSAL TO ABOLISH THE DB AND MC APPOINTED SEATS. WE WOULD THEN END UP WITH EGG ALL

OVER US.

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