TNAG-2733-FCO40-3939-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 114

UNCLASSIFIED

R

puṚ Constit Ben't

ابهام

104066 MDHIAN 9957

UNCLASSIFIED

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1227

OF 240432Z JUNE 93

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PRESS REPORTS (24 JULY 1993)

TALKS

1. REMARKS BY SIR ROBIN MCLAREN BEFORE HE DEPARTED FOR LONDON WERE REPORTED IN ROUTINE COVERAGE BY SOME PAPERS. SIR ROBIN SAID THAT HE WAS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE TALKS, ADDING THAT BOTH SIDES WOULD NEED TO MAKE CONCESSIONS IF THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE TO YIELD RESULTS.

2. QUOTING SOURCES CLOSE TO THE TALKS, THE HK ECONOMIC JOURNAL SAID THERE WERE STILL WIDE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CHINESE AND BRITISH SIDES OVER THE NINE NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES. THE CHINESE SIDE HAD SUGGESTED IN THE TALKS THAT KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS, THE SPORTS SECTOR AND THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY SHOULD BE INCLUDED WHILE ONE MORE FUNCTIONAL SEAT SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO THE LABOUR SECTOR. CHINESE SOURCES SAID THEIR PROPOSALS HAD TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE INTERESTS OF VARIOUS SECTORS. HOWEVER THE BRITISH SIDE HAD RESERVATIONS OVER THE REPRESENTATIVENESS OF KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS, AS MEMBERS OF THEIR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WERE NORMALLY SELECTED THROUGH CONSULTATION. IN ADDITION, MANY OF THEM WERE PRO-CHINA. THE BRITISH SIDE WAS ALSO CONCERNED BOUT THE ELECTORAL BASE OF THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY AND THE SPORTS SECTOR. THE BRITISH SIDE COULD CONSIDER THIS OPTION IF THEIR FRANCHISE WAS REPRESENTATIVE ENOUGH AND WOULD NOT DIFFER SUBSTANTIALLY FROM THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS. THE BRITISH IN PRINCIPLE AGREED TO AN ADDITIONAL SEAT FOR THE LABOUR SECTOR BUT BELIEVED THAT THE 'ONE MAN ONE VOTE' SYSTEM FOR THIS CATEGORY SHOULD BE RESTRICTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES OF THE UNIONS. CHINESE SOURCES SAID THAT THE CHINESE SIDE WOULD BE HAPPY TO RECEIVE COUNTER- PROPOSALS FROM THE BRITISH SIDE AND THAT ITS SUGGESTIONS COULD BE AMENDED AS THE TALKS PROGRESSED.

3. THE UNITED DAILY QUOTED SOURCES AS SAYING THAT THE CHINESE AND BRITISH SIDES HAD REACHED CONSENSUS ON THE PROBLEM OF APPOINTED SEATS FOR DBS. THE RATIO OF ELECTED SEATS TO APPOINTED SEATS WOULD BE ADJUSTED FROM THE EXISTING 2:1 TO 3:1 INSTEAD OF SCRAPPING THE APPOINTED SEATS ALTOGETHER.

1

PAGE UNCLASSIFIED