TNAG-2990-FCO40-3574-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 101

October

CONFIDENTIAL

PBIEU

These 1990 exchanges were in the context of discussions to reach a satisfactory package of electoral

arrangements in the Basic Law.

The Basic Law when it was published was not satisfactory to us particularly on the number of directly elected seats.

For us, the arrangements for the 1995 arrangements remained opened. There was no "secret deal".

Also, the Basic Law laid down a composition for the Election Committee for the 1999 LegCo. It said that this composition would not apply to the 1995 LegCo.

So the Basic Law gives no guidance for 1995. The Governor had to make proposals.

The Governor plans to release a full commentary on the documents (copy also enclosed) to ensure that the press get

our message.

The Chinese appear to be giving the impression to the Hong Kong press (picked up in London papers today) that there was a wider understanding in 1990 covering the whole arrangement for 1995, ie including the number of directly elected seats. But the documents show that we told the Chinese in 1990 that we would press them later to agree to more than 20 directly-elected seats in 1995. There was no understanding that there could be only 20 directly-elected seats in 1995.

The Governor is very keen to publish this material on the afternoon of 27 October Hong Kong time. We would therefore need to get instructions to Peking by 0100Z 27 February to forewarn the Chinese.

The Foreign Secretary agrees with this game plan.

I am copying this letter to Melanie Leech (Cabinet Office).

your

ever

Steph Smith.

Smith)

Private Secretary

J S Wall Esq

10 Downing Street

CONFIDENTIAL