TNAG-2769-FCO40-3986-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1994 — Page 196

briefings.PR.JRB

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HONG KONG TALKS: PRESS BRIEFING

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Taken FOR BACKGROUND USE WITH TRUSTED EDITORS AND CORRESPONDENTS IN LONDON AND HONG KONG

The talks are not about the development of a fully-fledged democracy in Hong Kong. We have an agreement with China for the gradual development of representative government both before and after 1997. The debate is about whether the arrangements for the 1994-95 elections, the next stage in the agreed programme, will be open and fair and whether the Legislative Council is to be a representative and therefore a credible institution.

The Governor's proposals would result in open and fair elections and the 1995 Legislative Council would be credible. These proposals have won strong support from the community, support which has held up well despite a determined effort by the PRC to undermine it. At the end of the day, it is the Legislative Council which will have to enact the necessary legislation. HMG-HKG will go no further than the people of Hong Kong want to go, but nor will we go less far.

We are discussing the arrangements for the 1994-95 elections with the PRC because we want the 1995 Legislative Council to survive the 1997 transfer of sovereignty, ie we want those elected to the Legislative Council in 1995 to remain in office until 1999. Unfortunately,

Unfortunately, we have so far been unable to persuade the Chinese Side to set objective criteria for the 'through train'.

There have been 11 rounds or about 100 hours of talks during which the Chinese side have shown little flexibility. We want to see a successful outcome and have made a genuine effort to address what we understand to be two of their main concerns. For example:

(A) We have indicated our willingness to consider a four

part Election Committee along the lines of that described in Annex I to the Basic Law. (But this would still consist of people who had themselves been elected);

(B) We have revised our proposals for the nine new

functional constituencies to ensure that they are all based on organisations. (Though they would still produce a large enough franchise to avoid rigging.)

There has not been a commensurate response from the Chinese side. They have to date not been prepared to commit themselves in advance to the outcome of the 1994-95 elections or to the 'through train'. We want open and fair elections. They seem to want arrangements which deliver a predetermined and comfortable result.