TNAG-2990-FCO40-3574-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 163

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MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. BUT THE CHINESE SIDE TELL US THAT SUCH AN INCREASE IS NOT POSSIBLE. WE HAVE THEREFORE HAD TO LOOK AGAIN AT OTHER ASPECTS OF THE ELECTORAL PACKAGE, SINCE IT APPEARS THAT A MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENT ON THE BASIS OF THE EARLIER DISCUSSIONS IS NOT POSSIBLE:

ON THE SPECIFIC ISSUE OF THE ELECTION COMMITTEE, ONE OF OUR REQUIREMENTS THROUGHOUT THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE WAS THAT THE BASIC LAW SHOULD SPELL OUT THE ROLE, COMPOSITION AND WORKING PROCEDURES OF THE ELECTION COMMITTEE IF THIS WAS TO BE USED AS A METHOD OF ELECTION TO LEGCO IN 1995. THE BASIC

LAW DID NOT DO SO INDEED AS I POINTED OUT YESTERDAY, IT IS EXPLICIT THAT THE DEFINITION OF THE ELECTORAL COMMITTEE FOR

LEGCO IN ANNEX 11 DOES NOT APPLY TO THE FIRST POST-97 LEGCO. SO THE OPTION WAS LEFT OPEN FOR A DIFFERENT COMPOSITION.

5.

HURD

M

WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS LINE WITH MR GOODLAD, WHO AGREES.

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LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT

.AND MS BROOKS

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PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES

MR APPLEYARD

MR HUM

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CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE

CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES

CAOFF//MR SIBSON

CAOFF //MS D CORNER CAOFF//MR CHARLTON

PS/PM

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