CONFIDENTIAL
143756
MDHOAN
(iii) Hope to continue negotiations on the more complex issues with the Chinese side. Have therefore proposed dates for a further round of talks in December.
(iv) Proposed legislation will cover voting age and voting method for all three tiers of the legislature and abolition of appointed seats to District Boards. As a sign of goodwill, will also
enable National Peoples' Congress deputies to take part in all elected bodies in Hong Kong.
(v) This package is largely uncontroversial in Hong Kong. Where agreement was reached in the talks, the draft Legislation will reflect it. No reason why this modest step should make further talks impossible.
3.
DEFENSIVE POINTS (UNCLASSIFIED)
(i) WHY WAS THE VOTING METHOD FOR LEGCO A MAKE OR BREAK ISSUE?
- We made clear to the Chinese early on that an interim agreement would only be of practical use if it included all the urgent
issues, including the LegCo voting method. That would buy us a bit more time to resolve the rest.
Wide support in Hong Kong for the application of the single seat, single vote voting method to LegCo. ALL major political parties in favour of it. Makes sense to deal with the voting method for all three tiers of the legislature in one piece of Legislation. If we failed to include the voting method for LegCo in the package, there would be a strong risk of an amendment being carried in LegCo to include it. That would lead to further difficulties with China.
This was not the only issue left unresolved on the interim package: we were also unable to reach a satisfactory understanding on the abolition of appointed members in the District Boards and Municipal Councils.
(ii) IS BRITAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF THE TALKS BY LEGISLATING UNILATERALLY?
No. We have said we wish to continue negotiations over the more complex issues and to proceed as far as possible on a basis of co-operation. To this end, have proposed dates for a further
2
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
Page
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.