see (48
CONFIDENTIAL
MKB 011
pa. Elections ра. Еши
016061
MDLIAN 4658
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
Y
1997
EGIST
INDEX
FA
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TELNO 1407
OF 02100OZ SEPTEMBER 93
нив
012/3(68)
(it).
TOP COPY
Action Take: DIST?
OUR TELNOS 883 AND 983 AND YOUR TELNO 577: PUBLIC STEPS AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION (BEC) ORDINANCE.
(47)
1. ACCORDING TO OUR ORIGINAL PLAN, THE NEXT PUBLIC STEP WOULD BE THE GAZETTAL OF A COMMENCEMENT NOTICE TO BRING INTO OPERATION AND REMAINING PARTS OF THE BEC ORDINANCE AROUND MID OCTOBER 1993. THEY ARE MAINLY PROVISIONS RELATING TO BEC'S FUNCTION TO CONDUCT ELECTIONS AND ASSOCIATED MATTERS SUCH AS THE MAKING OF REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES.
2.
WHILE GAZETTING THE COMMENCEMENT NOTICE WOULD BE A LOGICAL STEP TO TAKE SO AS TO GIVE THE BEC ALL THE NECESSARY LEGAL POWERS TO DISCHARGE ITS FUNCTIONS UNDER THE BEC ORDINANCE, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT GAZETTING THE NOTICE WHILST THE TALKS ARE STILL IN PROGRESS MAY GIVE RISE TO ANOTHER CHINESE ACCUSATION OF 'PETTY TRICK'. INDEED, THE BEC WILL CONTINUE TO BE FULLY OCCUPIED WITH THE DEMARCATION OF DB AND MC CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR AND WOULD ONLY NEED THE POWERS IN THE REMAINING PROVISIONS OF THE BEC ORDINANCE BY EARLY NEXT YEAR IN PREPARATION FOR THE DB ELECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER 1994. WE COULD THEREFORE DEFER GAZETTAL OF THE NOTICE UNTIL AFTER THE TALKS ON THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE OUT OF THE WAY. THIS WOULD OF COURSE BE A BIT UNTIDY AND COULD ATTRACT SOME PUBLIC ENQUIRIES BUT IS DEFENSIBLE ON PRACTICAL GROUNDS. OUR ASSESSMENT IS THAT THE BEC WOULD MOST UNLIKELY RIASE ANY COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS.
3 *
GIVEN THE ABOVE CONSIDERATIONS, WE INTEND TO KEEP THE OPTION OF TAKING THIS PARTICULAR PUBLIC STEP IN MID-OCT. OPEN BUT REVIEW THE SITUATION IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS OF THE TALKS WITH THE CHIENSE AT THAT TIME.
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.
4.
PATTEN
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