TNAG-2736-FCO40-3944-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1994 — Page 65

VERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.

TUE 10 NOU 25 18:15

PG.06

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There are compelling political

reasons too.

The

single-seat, single-vote voting system for LegCo enjoys widespread support in this Council. Both major parties have said they would support its introduction. It would be irresponsible

of us to reach an understanding with China on any issue which we knew in advance would be unacceptable to the stated majority opinion in LegCo. If we introduced legislation on the voting method which failed to include the single-seat single-vote system

for LegCo, we would be flying in the face of what we know to be

this Council's wishes.

If the Chinese

confirmation of this

A

were prepared though we have no to agree to the single-seat, single-vote

system for LegCo at some future date, why could they not agree

to it now?

Let me make one other obvious point. If you were not to have this voting method for LegCo, any other for example, a proportional system - would be more complicated and would take more time to bring into law.

We also discussed membership of District Boards and

Municipal Councils with our Chinese colleagues. The Chinese side

were unable to agree that appointed membership of these bodies should be abolished. Earlier indications that they were prepared

to reach an acceptable agreement that would have allowed us

do this, while preserving the possibility of a resumption of appointed membership in the future, alas proved illusory.

It is a pity that we were not able to conclude an

interim agreement even on issues which are not very complex, nor

controversial in this Council, nor

I suspect

principled significance to the Chinese side.

of great

I have considered the position carefully with the

Executive Council in recent days, and have consulted Ministers

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