TNAG-2735-FCO40-3943-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 175

UNCLASSIFIED

176056

MDLIAN 8374

KONG WAS NOT READY FOR A REFERENDUM, CITING LOW TURN-OUT RATES IN PAST ELECTIONS.

7.

SCA REPLIED ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND MADE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:

A REFERENDUM INVOLVED A LOT OF PRACTICAL PROBLEMS (E.G. NEED FOR LEGISLATION, NEED TO ENSURE WIDE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION):

TIME-TABLE FOR LEGISLATING ON THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS WAS ALREADY VERY TIGHT:

REFERENDUM WAS A BLUNT INSTRUMENT TO GAUGE PUBLIC VIEWS: PARTICULARLY UNSUITABLE FOR A COMPLEX AND COMPLICATED SUBJECT SUCH AS ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1994/95:

OUTCOME OF A REFRENDUM WOULD NOT NECESSARILY PROVIDE A CLEAR BASIS FOR DECISIONS:

THERE ALREADY EXISTED OTHER MORE SUBTLE AND SOPHISTICATED MEANS TO GATHER PUBLIC VIEWS: AND

CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE OF LEGCO WAS TO PASS, AMEND OR REJECT DRAFT LEGISLATION PUT BEFORE IT. WHATEVER THE POLITICAL ATTRACTION OF A REFERENDUM, LEGCO MUST NOT BE DISTRACTED FROM PROPERLY DISCHARGING ITS RESPONSIBILITY.

THE THREE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS VOTED AGAINST THE MOTION.

8.

AT THE START OF THE DEBATE, THE LIBERAL PARTY SOUGHT TO MOVE AN ADJOURNMENT ON THE GROUND THAT THE DEBATE WAS UNTIMELY AND WOULD NOT BE CONDUCIVE TO TALKS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA. THEY BELIEVED A REFERENDUM SHOULD BE HELD ONLY IF TALKS BROKE DOWN AND CONVERGENCE WAS CLEARLY NOT IMPOSSIBLE. THOSE WHO OBJECTED TO AN ADJOURNMENT ARGUED THAT ALL LEGCO MEMBERS HAD THE RIGHT TO CONDUCT DEBATE.

PATTEN

YYYY

PAGE 3 UNCLASSIFIED