TNAG-2767-FCO40-3984-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 153

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6.

We all must hope it will be possible to reach an

understanding in these discussions on electoral arrangements that

are open, fair and acceptable to the people of Hong Kong. That

is our aim. There will, I can assure Honourable Members, be no

hidden agreements. Because at the end of the day, it will be for

you in this Council, representing the people of Hong Kong, who

will have the constitutional duty to enact legislation on the

electoral arrangements for 1994 and 1995. That fact will be

constantly in my mind and in the minds

delegation.

of members of our

7.

No one should imagine that these discussions are going

to be easy. They will not be. For our part, we will try

sincerely to achieve success in these talks, to bridge the

differences between both sides and to identify the common ground,

while remaining true to the undertakings we have given to you and

to the people of Hong Kong that the arrangements for the

elections should be fair, open, and acceptable to the community.

We have not travelled this far only to abandon those undertakings

now. But equally we would be doing less than our duty to the

community we serve if we did not enter these talks determined to

try to the best of our ability to bring them to a successful and

honourable conclusion. So we enter these discussions in a

positive spirit, while not underestimating the difficulties of

securing agreement on terms that could honourably be recommended

to the community whose best interests we seek to serve.

a: \talks.stm

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