TNAG-2990-FCO40-3574-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 129

CONFIDENTIAL

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Third, a further message from

Mr Hurd to Mr Qian of 31 January

1990. Mr Hurd drew attention to

the real concern and disappointment

in Hong Kong over the outcome of

the recently held Basic Law

Drafting Committee Special Group

Meeting. He pointed out that there

were two differences between the

two sides: the number of directly

elected seats and the question of

compatibility of systems before and

after 1997. He pressed again for

an increase in directly elected

seats. He emphasised the

importance of ensuring that any

Grand Electoral College or Election

Committee used to elect members of

the legislature should be a fully

representative body constituted in

an open way. He went on to say

that it would be important that the

details of the composition and

constitution of any Grand Electoral

FIDENTIAL #