TNAG-2781-FCO40-4000-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1993 — Page 46

23.9.93

Chinese sources in the know

about the talks quoted by the Oriental Daily

CONFIDENTIAL

9 -

The Chinese side believes that the Election

Committee should be formed in accordance with BL stipulations. Its idea is to have four groups of people to each nominate three people to the committee, from which 10 Legco members will be elected. The Chinese side is inclined towards having the 12 Election Committee members elect 10 legislators through friendly consultation. The Election Committee is very important as it will return 10 out of the 60 legislators, therefore, it must be in line. with BL stipulations. Although the BL has not written down how the Committee will return legislators to the first SAR legislature, there is tacit understanding in the seven diplomatic exchanges that they should be returned along the lines of the Selection Committee. According to the BL, the Selection Committee will be formed by 400 people, 100 each from four sectors: industry, commerce and finance; professionals; labour and religious; and local NPC and CPPCC delegates. It is not exactly true that there has been no progress in the talks as the British side has agreed to consider the Chinese idea that the Election Committee should be formed by four categories of people.

CONFIDENTIAL