TNAG-2739-FCO40-3953-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development--through-tra-1993 — Page 8

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.HK POLICY

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LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS

NEWS D

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SIR J COLES MR HUM

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CONFIDENTIAL

005001 MDHOAN 2705

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1927

OF 29023OZ DECEMBER 93

CONFIDENTIAL

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

ماجر

TOP COPY Q DIST?

î

Con Derpt Through Train

003665 MDHIAN 8221

32

12.17

: 1993

1994/95 ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS:

THROUGH TRAIN FOR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND

DISTRICT BOARDS.

STRY

4GISTRY

Takat

1. LOCAL MEDIA TODAY GIVE PROMINENT COVERAGE TO A STATEMENT

ISSUED BY THE HKMAO ON 27 DECEMBER WHICH SAYS THAT THE LEGCO, MCS AND DBS FORMED IN 1994/95 WILL ALL HAVE TO BE DISSOLVED ON 1 JULY 1997 AS THEY CONTRAVENE THE BASIC LAW, AND THAT THEY WILL BE 'REORGANISED ACCORDING TO THE RELEVANT STIPULATIONS OF THE BASIC LAW AND THE DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS'. FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT IS BEING FAXED TO HKD (RICKETTS) AND PEKING (COX).

2. MANY INDEPENDENT EDITORIALS AND COMMENTATORS HAVE REACTED

WITH DISMAY AT THE CHINESE STATEMENT, IN PARTICULAR THE ASSERTION THAT THE MCS AND DBS TO BE ELECTED IN 1994/95 ARE AGAINST THE BASIC LAW. WE HAVE ALREADY ISSUED A HOLDING LINE WHICH QUERIES THE CONSISTENCY OF THE CHINESE STATEMENT WITH THEIR PLEDGE TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY, AND WHICH REITERATES OUR READINESS TO CONTINUE TALKS ON THE DIFFICULT OUTSTANDING ISSUES RELATING TO THE 1995 LEGCO ELECTIONS. IN RESPONSE TO ANY FURTHER PRESS ENQUIRIES, WE PLAN TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:

HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT 'THROUGH TRAIN' FOR LEGCO IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HONG KONG AS IT IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT THE BRITISH SIDE HAS ENTERED INTO DISCUSSION WITH THE CHINESE SIDE ON ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1995 LEGCO ELECTIONS, AND HAVE PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS WHICH ARE CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING CONTINUITY AFTER 1997.

A MATTER FOR REGRET THAT AFTER 17 ROUNDS OF TALKS WE HAVE STILL NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE AGREEMENT. NOW THAT WE HAVE GAINED A BIT MORE TIME BY STARTING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS ON THE MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD ISSUES, WE ARE READY TO CONCENTRATE OUR EFFORTS IN THE LIMITED REMAINING TIME ON THE MORE DIFFICULT ISSUES INCLUDING THE 'THROUGH TRAIN'.