TNAG-2990-FCO40-3574-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 107

CONFIDENTIAL

Messame from

Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs to

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

(28 January 1999)

Foreign Minister Qian appreciates the message from

Foreign Secretary Mr Hurd. The Minister has taken note of the Foreign Secretary's concern over the development of the

political structure Of Hong Kong. The Foreign Minister

believes that as long as both sides set store by the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and act in the spirit

of mutual understanding and mutual accommodation which

enabled Our two countries to conclude the Sino-British

Joint Declaration, there will be no problems between us that defy resolution. It is precisely in this spirit that the Chinese side on January 15 put forward a new proposal on the development of the political structure of Hong Kong, which embodies our positive efforts and a major concession we have made on this question. Having considered various factors, the Chinese side cannot bring itself to agree to

the Right Honourable Foreign Secretary's proposal that in 1997 the proportion of the directly elected seats in the first Legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative

Region be set at 40%. However, if the British side agrees to the percentages of the directly elected seats in the

Legislature in 1997 and thereafter as contained in the Chinese January 15 proposal (i.e., in a Legislature of 60, 33.3% of the seats will be directly elected in 1997, 40% in

1999 and 50% in 2003), in order to achieve the convergence

of the political structure before and after 1997 and the smooth transition of government, the Chinese side is ready to consider the British suggestion that the number of

directly elected seats of the Legislature in 1991 be increased from 15 to 18. A common understanding between China and Britain on this question would contribute to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and enable our two countries to take major step forward in restoring and

developing our bilateral relations.

P4692

CONFIDENTIAL