TNAG-2776-FCO40-3993-Hong-Kong-questions-for-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-on-c-1993 — Page 83

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FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 176

OF 051115Z FEBRUARY 93

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HKC 011/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

08 E 1993

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140416

MDHIAN 8675

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

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Action Taken

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INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

LEGCO QUESTION: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

GILBERT LEUNG (CRC) HAS GIVEN NOTICE TO ASK THE FOLLOWING ORAL QUESTION AT THE LEGCO SITTING ON 10 FEBRUARY:

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2.

'GIVEN THE RECENT REMARKS BY THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY TO THE EFFECT THAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WOULD HOLD DISCUSSION TO FIND A WAY OUT OF THE CURRENT IMPASSE OVER THE 1994/1995 ELECTION ARRANGEMENTS, AND THAT 'THE DAYS WHEN THESE MATTERS CAN BE SETTLED BETWEEN LONDON AND PEKING WITHOUT TAKING ANY ACCOUNT OF

WILL THE OPINION IN HONG KONG HAVE OBVIOUSLY GONE', ADMINISTRATION ASSURE THIS COUNCIL THAT NO AGREEMENT WILL BE CONCLUDED WITH CHINA ON SUCH ARRANGEMENTS WITHOUT PRIOR CONSULTATION WITH THIS COUNCIL AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, AND THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL NOT BE PRESENTED WITH A FAIT ACCOMPLI QUERY'.

WE INTEND TO ANSWER AS FOLLOWS:

'IT IS A MATTER OF FACT THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS THE POWER TO ENACT LAWS TO PROVIDE FOR THE 1994-95 ELECTION ARRANGEMENTS. IF DISCUSSIONS WERE TO BE HELD WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON THOSE ARRANGEMENTS AND WERE AN UNDERSTANDING TO BE REACHED, THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS WOULD OF COURSE RECOMMEND IT TO THIS COUNCIL. THE GOVERNOR HAS CONSISTENTLY MADE CLEAR THAT THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1994/95 SHOULD BE OPEN, FAIR AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ENDORSES THIS VIEW'.

WE RECOGNISE THAT THE SECOND SENTENCE IS A HYPOTHETICAL STATEMENT. HOWEVER, IF IT WERE LEFT OUT WE MIGHT INVITE CRITICISMS FROM LEGCO MEMBERS THAT WE ARE NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION. OUR SLIGHT PREFERENCE, THEREFORE IS TO RETAIN IT BUT WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.

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