TNAG-2769-FCO40-3986-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1994 — Page 21

SECRETARY OF STATE'S STATEMENT TO THE HOUSE,

6 DECEMBER

HONG KONG

ம

1:30

RECE

4 JAN 1994 JAN 1994

1354 ISTRY

REGISTRY Aion Taken

I will, with permission, Mr Speaker, make a statement about electoral arrangements in Hong Kong.

We have an important job to do in the remaining years of British sovereignty in Hong Kong. We intend to carry out these responsibilities, with the support of this House. Part of our task will be to make arrangements for the elections to

the District Boards, Municipal Councils and the Legislative Council in 1994 and 1995.

There is no argument between Britain and China over the

principle that Hong Kong's democratic institutions should continue to develop. That is set out in the Sino-British

Joint Declaration. It provides that by 1 July 1997 Hong

Kong's legislature will be "constituted by elections". China's Basic Law for Hong Kong after that date spells out more fully that process of development.

The issue is how these principles should be translated into practical arrangements. The proposals which the Governor put forward in October 1992 with our full support were carefully framed to be consistent with the Basic Law. We have all along wished to proceed in agreement with China, in order to assure continuity. That is why we have put so much effort since April into the talks with China.

The talks have been concerned with complex electoral issues and I apologise for the complexity of this statement. But the underlying question is simple: will we bequeath to Hong Kong an open and democratic system offering the electorate a

genuine choice, or will we settle for a system based on small electorates open to manipulation and corruption?

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