TNAG-2781-FCO40-4000-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1993 — Page 149

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12

8.8.93

Chen Ziying

12.8.93

quoted by a Pok Oi Hospital delegation that visited Peking last month

Chinese sources quoted by HK Economic Journal

The Chinese side is against the

Government's plan to abolish apppointed DB and municipal council seats. The DBs may be able to retain some appointed seats in future.

The Chinese side is willing to discuss the British side's amendments to the composition of certain functional constituencies based on the Chinese side's earlier proposals. Counter-proposals by the British side other than the Patten package will help take the talks forward. The Chinese side is willing to consider extending the electorate of the proposed insurance functional constituency, such as by combining it with other related trades. However, it believes that China enterprises should have a seat in Legco. The Chinese side hopes that a consensus on the Election Committee and the functional constituency elections can be reached by the September ministerial meeting.

CONFIDENTIAL