TNAG-2718-FCO40-3924-Hong-Kong-electoral-provisions-and-arrangements-1993 — Page 157

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THEREFORE BE ABLE TO AVOID NUGATORY WORK BY THE COMMISSION. BUT IF LEGISLATION CANNOT BE INTRODUCED IN OCTOBER THERE WOULD BE NO CHANCE OF COMPLETING THE BOUNDARY WORK FOR THE VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE WHICH STARTS ON 1 APRIL 1994.

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ON THIS BASIS, AND SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, WE COULD START TO PREPARE THE GROUND WITH LEGCO FOR NON-INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION BEFORE THE SUMMER BREAK. ESSENTIALLY WE WOULD ADOPT THE LINE THAT WE NEED TO GIVE THE TALKS A GOOD CHANCE OF SUCCESS AND WE NEED TO GIVE LEGCO ADEQUATE TIME TO CONSIDER THE ISSUES PROPERLY. IF CAREFULLY HANDLED I THINK THE MAJORITY OF LEGCO MEMBERS COULD BE BROUGHT TO ACCEPT THE POSITION.

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WITH THE CHINESE, I THINK THERE WOULD BE ADVANTAGES IN LETTING THEM KNOW IN LATE JUNE OR JULY, ASSUMING SOME PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN THE TALKS BY THEN, THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSIONS UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER BUT THAT WE THEN HAVE

93 t. Dec 93 A REAL DEADLINE, I.E. THE NEED TO PASS LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD

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ALLOW THE BEC TO FINISH ITS WORK IN TIME FOR THE VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE IN APRIL 1994.

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GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.

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