TNAG-2734-FCO40-3942-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 211

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22 JAN 1993

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INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREPJLG HONG KONG"

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056206

MOLIAN 7373

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CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

LEGCO MOTION DEBATE ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE

SUMMARY

1. AT THE LEGCO SITTING ON 13 JANUARY, PHILIP WONG (INDEPENDENT) MOVED THE FOLLOWING MOTION DEBATE:

'THAT THIS COUNCIL URGES THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO INTRODUCE THE CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE AS OUTLINED IN THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS MADE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON OCT 7, 1992.'

THE MOTION WAS DEFEATED BY 35 VOTES TO 2. ALTOGETHER 14 NON- OFFICIAL MEMBERS SPOKE ON THE TOPIC: SCA SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THE

ADMINISTRATION.

2. IN MOVING HIS MOTION, WONG SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE MOTION WAS NOT TO DISCUSS THE SUBSTANCE OF THE GOVERNOR'S POLITICAL PACKAGE: RATHER, IT WAS A DEBATE ON PROCEDURES. HE SAID THE GOVERNOR'S CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE HAD BEEN ARBITRARILY ANNOUNCED AND HAD

THE SINCE MET WITH STRONG OPPOSITION FROM THE CHINESE SIDE. DETERIORATING SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS WERE AFFECTING HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY. HONG KONG PEOPLE HAD FOUND THE CURRENT SITUATION INTOLERABLE, AND THEREFORE FINDING A WAY OUT WAS A MATTER OF URGENCY. IN SUMMING UP, WONG WARNED THAT ANY CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS WHICH FAILED TO GET CHINA'S ENDORSEMENT WERE BOUND TO BE DEMOLISHED AFTER 1997.

3. CRC CONVENOR ALLEN LEE SAID HIS COLLEAGUES DID NOT SUPPORT THE MOTION BECAUSE IT WOULD ONLY ADD FUEL TO THE ROW .BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA OVER THE CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE. HOWEVER, HE URGED THE GOVERNOR TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN WITHDRAWING THE PROPOSALS IN THE INTEREST OF A SMOOTH TRANSITION. HE URGED THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS TO GO BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE TO WORK THINGS OUT.

4. HUI YIN-FAT (INDEPENDENT) SPOKE AGAINST THE MOTION, ARGUING

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