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tasks set out in the Joint Declaration". We would like to
see that translated into practice.
Q.7 Is seeking more than 20 directly-elected seats in 995 a
high priority for the British government, and will you raise
the matter with Qian at future meetings? Is this seen as an
alternative, or complimenting, the Governor's proposals, and
would London support a unilateral increase above 20 in 1995,
were this passed by Legco? How do you explain your comment
on the BBC in mid-November that "we are content with the
figure of 20 directly-elected seats"?
A.
7 What we want to do is to make a clear move forward in
1995. One way to do that is to increase the number of
directly elected seats. Another way is that set out in the
Governor's proposals.
Q.8
In the 1990 diplomatic exchanges you suggest the British might "make every effort to encourage people of moderate views, including those in the business community, to
play an active part in the political life of the territory".
Does that remain British policy today? If so, what steps
have been taken? What was the purpose of your reference to "moderate sensible opinion" in those exchanges, and how do
you react to liberal legislators, now supporting the
Governor's political reforms, who see this as an insult to
them? With hindsight would you have worded any of those exchanges differently?
A.8 As I have said on many occasions, we are committed to
maintaining and preserving prosperity and stability in Hong
Kong. Naturally we would want to encourage moderate and
sensible people from all sectors of Hong Kong society to
participate in political life. What sort of society would
benefit by encouraging "immoderate and non-sensible" opinions? I seriously doubt that any of Hong Kong's
legislators would be insulted by such an eminently reasonable
proposal. I'm sure none of them regard themselves as
scsmpsos.min JN BRIEF
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