TNAG-2781-FCO40-4000-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1993 — Page 103

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Appendix I

Chinese Comments on Constitutional Package and Sincerity

Official/Sources /Commentators

Comments

14.8.93

15.8.93

15.8.93

NCNA HK Vice- Director Qin Wenjun at a meeting with local CPPCC delegates, as quoted by

Kenneth Chow

Chinese sources quoted by TVB and several

papers

Law Ping-tong in Wen Wei Po

16.8.93

CNA commentary

The composition of the Election Committee must be based on BL stipulations and the seven diplomatic exchanges and cannot be re-negotiated. The two sides have already agreed that there should be 20 directly elected Legco seats in 1995, therefore this also will not be re-negotiated and the number of such seats will not be increased. Functional constituency legislators must be returned through indirect election and it is inappropriate to abolish appointed DB members. Technical matters such as boundary demarcation, voting age and the method of voting can be discussed.

The ninth round will focus on the functional constituency elections and the composition of the Election Committee. The Chinese will insist that the Chinese Enterprises Association should be made a functional constituency. The Chinese side is willing to discuss further the proposed kaifong association, fisheries industry and insurance industry functional

constituencies, which the British side thinks are not representative enough.

However, the bottom line is that functional constituency elections cannot be turned into direct elections in disguise as proposed by Mr Patten.

One cannot be optimistic about this round of talks if the British side does not

return to the "three conformities" principle and be sincere and cooperative. The Chinese side will insist on the BL

stipulations concerning the 1994/95 electoral arrangements, such as having 20 directly elected seats, indirect elections for the functional constituencies, and an 800-strong Election Committee.

The British side has stubbornly clinged to

the Governor's "three violations" package and has made various "false starts"

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