TNAG-2786-FCO40-4005-Hong-Kong-UK-Parliamentary-and-other-interest-in-constitutio-1993 — Page 3

RECE

INL

The Rt Hon Christopher Patten

все ра

PS/Dr.

Spodle

香港總督府

GOVERNMent houSE HONG KONG

91

Personal

HKC 01215

нис

17 JAN 1994

MSTRY

POISTRY Auliun Tekan ?

цви

M. Gefrett in Wyour

A

Pre Keep

file Samenlève retrievable

31 December 1993

Осс. Мо моліт, ния Far

1011

Ps low voochad.

December.

reasons

Thank you very much for your letter of 15

a

stage

But,

The newspapers have not done justice to the for the failure to get

first agreement. This is not surprising of course. that said, the Hong Kong press has not been too bad and public support remains strong for standing up for a decent settlement.

The gap between the two sides is not alas small. On the key issue of functional constituencies, we have moved a long way from our original proposals, a potential electorate of 900,000 (as opposed to the original 2.7 million). The Chinese appear to be

the most prepared

marginal to contemplate only

They want to increase in the present 100,000 or so. keep the FCs small, and they insist on corporate rather than individual voting. Their supporters make it clear that in this way it will be easier influence the voting outcome. After seven months of talks there is no sign of a meeting of minds on FCs, account for 50% of LegCo which as you know will members in 1995.

to

We are also far apart on the question of how to form the Election Committee. Again, we have moved a long way and the Chinese have not moved at all. The basic issue here is whether EC members will themselves be elected: the Chinese have not agreed to

principle,

and

they want

included as of right.

and NPCC

the CPPCC members

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