TNAG-2734-FCO40-3942-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 143

[YES]

Draft

SECRET Confidental

as al evening 6 Marel

Draft Statement by the Governor

to the Legislative Council

1. I have a significant announcement to make this afternoon.

I felt it right to make it first to Honourable Members of this

Council.

2.

The Chinese and British sides have agreed that the

Government representatives of the two countries will, starting

from (date), hold talks in Peking on the arrangements for

1994/95 elections in Hong Kong, in accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the principle of convergence

with the Basic Law and the relevant understandings and

agreements reached between China and Britain/ [the exchange of

correspondence between the two Foreign Ministers.]

The British side in the talks will be led by the British

Ambassador to China, Sir Robin McLaren. The delegation will

3.

also include the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Michael

Sze, the Political Adviser, William Ehrman, the Deputy

Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Peter Lai, as well as

Peter Ricketts, Head of the Hong Kong Department in the Foreign

and Commonwealth office.

4. Before introducing the remaining draft legislation on the 1994/95 electoral arrangements into the Legislative Council, which will have to enact the final legislation, I have decided,

on the advice of the Executive Council, to see whether talks

can lead to an early understanding which we could recommend to

the Council. The Executive Council and I believe that these

talks must be concluded in time for legislation to be enacted

by the Legislative Council during its present session so that

the 1994/95 elections can be held on schedule.

NJH.

BRIEFS/legco statement Yes 4.3

SECRET