TNAG-2724-FCO40-3930-Hong-Kong-political-parties-United-Democrats-of-Hong-Kong-(U-1993 — Page 63

Has HMG abandoned the wish for more than 20 directly-elected

Legco seats in 1995 and if so have you told the Chinese?

- As the Governor said in his LegCo address on 7 October, I

made the case to Qian Qichen in New York last September for an

expansion in the number of directly-elected seats in 1995, but

the Chinese view is that such a move would be incompatible

with the Basic Law and that the Basic Law cannot be changed

before 1997.

It remains our view that one effective way of strengthening democracy in Hong Kong would be to expand the number of directly-elected seats in 1995. We have not said anything to

the Chinese that runs counter to this.

-

But for the present we are concentrating in our discussions

with the Chinese on the alternative course set out in the

Governor's LegCo address, namely how to develop Hong Kong's representative institutions to the maximum extent within the

terms of the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. Our hope is that by pursuing this course we can arrive at an understanding on arrangements which are fair and open, and can be commended to LegCo.

emily.supp.MORRIS

JEB