TNAG-2735-FCO40-3943-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 173

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INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

LEGCO MOTION DEBATE: REFERENDUM

SUMMARY

1. A MOTION BY SZETO WAH TO CONDUCT A REFERENDUM ON THE 1994/95 ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENT WAS DEFEATED BY A WIDE MARGIN (18 FOR, 29 AGAINST, AND 2 ABSTENTION). ALLEN LEE MOVED A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE DEBATE ON SZETO'S MOTION, BUT WAS DEFEATED (16 FOR, 28 AGAINST, 4 ABSTENTION).

DETAILS

2. AT THE LEGCO SITTING ON 21 APRIL, SZETO WAH MOVED THE FOLLOWING MOTION:

''THIS COUNCIL URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO HOLD A TERRITORY-WIDE REFERENDUM ON 1994-95 ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS TO FACILITATE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE RELEVANT BILLS ON SUCH BASIS AND TO ENSURE THAT THE DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF OPENNESS, FAIRNESS AND ACCEPTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.'

3.

ALL 13 UDHK MEMBERS, PLUS C.H. LEONG (WHO DID NOT FOLLOW THE PARTY LINE OF MEETING POINT), EMILY LAU, ANDREW WONG, ANNA WU AND JIMMY MCGREGOR SUPPORTED THE MOTION. THEIR MAIN ARGUMENTS WERE :

REFERENDUM WAS A BASIC POLITICAL RIGHT. IT WAS ALSO THE BEST MEANS FOR THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS THEIR WISHES TO BRITAIN AND CHINA:

ALTHOUGH CONSTITUTIONALLY THE RESULTS OF A REFERENDUM WOULD NOT HAVE A BINDING EFFECT, IT WOULD CARRY A GREAT MORAL FORCE. IF BRITAIN AND CHINA WERE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS WHICH WAS PATENTLY AGAINST THE REFERENDUM RESULTS, THEY WOULD HAVE TO FACE MORAL CRITICISMS:

THERE WAS NO BASIS WHATSOEVER THAT A REFERENDUM WAS AN ATTEMPT TO SEEK INDEPENDENCE OR SEMI-INDEPENDENCE FOR HONG KONG:

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