TNAG-2719-FCO40-3925-Hong-Kong-electoral-provisions-and-arrangements-1993 — Page 69

C

布政司署

香港下亞壓製道

* Our Ref.:

來阻檔號 Your Ref.

SECRET

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

IMMEDIATE

BY CLASSIFIED FAX

4 November 1993

Mr. Nigel Cox,

British Embassy,

Peking

Dean Nigel,

Jiang

Talks on 1994/95 Elections: DB/MC Appointed Seats

As Enzhu

you say, we will (I hope) soon know whether

would put such an

interpretation on the Chinese

position on appointed DB/MC membership.

2.

I do, however, know the Governor's position on this we will legislate to abolish appointed DB/MC seats whether the Chinese subscribe to a first stage deal on the terms or not. Never mind the position in constitutional law, the idea of retaining the legal provision for appointed seats (optional or otherwise) is a non-starter politically.

i foun An tile.

(Peter Lai)

Deputy Secretary for Constitutional Affairs

c.c. P.F. Ricketts, Esq, HKD, FCO (By classified fax)

SECRET