TNAG-2731-FCO40-3937-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 144

OVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.

FRI 29 JAN 95 08:01

SECRET 高度機密

6

PG.DE

recently

defined as new legislative arrangements consistent

with the Basic Law.

9

As regards the Hong Kong community, despite the

onslaught of Chinese criticisms and

of our

public opinion in favour

opposition by a margin of two to one.

occasions given its support :

considerable

threats,

proposals outnumbers

The LegCo has on three

14 October 1992 it voted in favour of our

for the composition

of the Election

(a) on

proposals

Committee;

(b) on 11 November 1992 it voted by 32-21 in favour of

the generality of our proposed package of electoral

arrangements; and

(c)

on 13 January 1993 it opposed, by a vote of 35-2, a

motion to ask the Governor to withdraw the proposals.

Our

proposals

to

judgment is that both LegCo and the community expect our

be introduced into the LegCo with the minimum of

change as quickly as possible, so that LegCo consideration of

them can begin. They also expect that the proposals will then

unacceptable

be

amended by the LegCo to make them less

to China. The Chinese Government have recently taken a softer