TNAG-2735-FCO40-3943-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 156

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13 MAY 1993

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MDHIAN 0301

LEGCO QUESTION: 1994/95 ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS

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1 THE REV FUNG CHI-WOOD (UDHK) WILL ASK THE FOLLOWING ORAL QUESTION AT THE LEGCO SITTING ON 12 MAY:

'THE PUBLIC AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE

CONTENTS OF THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS THAT ARE BEING HELD ON ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS AND THE CONVERGENCE OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN 1997. WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL

OF THE AGENDA AND PROGRESS OF EACH ROUND OF THESE TALKS SO THAT

THE PUBLIC WILL NOT BE DEPRIVED OF THEIR RIGHT TO INFORMATION AND

THEY WILL BE ASSURED THAT THEIR INTEREST WILL NOT BE SACRIFICED?'

2. WE INTEND TO REPLY AS FOLLOWS:

'ON 13 APRIL THIS YEAR, THE CHINESE AND BRITISH SIDES AGREED THAT THE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TWO COUNTRIES WOULD HOLD

TALKS ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 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 AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS REACHED BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN.

TWO ROUNDS OF TALKS HAVE SINCE BEEN HELD IN PEKING: THE FIRST ON 22-24 APRIL, AND THE SECOND ON 28-29 APRIL. THE TWO SIDES HAVE

AGREED TO HOLD A THIRD ROUND OF TALKS IN PEKING ON 21-23 MAY.

AS AGREED WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, THE CONTENT OF THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE CONFIDENTIAL. THEY COVER THE WHOLE RANGE OF ISSUES CONNECTED WITH THE DISTRICT BOARDS, MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN HONG KONG IN 1994 AND 1995: THERE ARE NO PRE-SET DETAILED AGENDAS FOR EACH ROUND OF

MEETING. THE AIM OF THE BRITISH SIDE IN THESE TALKS IS TO ACHIEVE AN UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CHINESE SIDE ON ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS WHICH ARE OPEN, FAIR AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. IF AN UNDERSTANDING IS REACHED WITH THE CHINESE, WE WILL RECOMMEND IT TO THIS COUNCIL. THERE IS NO QUESTION OF SACRIFICING THE INTEREST OF HONG KONG.'

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