TNAG-2990-FCO40-3574-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 78

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WOULD NOT BE AS RAPID AS MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG OR WE OURSELVES WOULD HAVE LIKED. I THEREFORE VERY MUCH HOPE THAT AS YOU OBSERVE THE 1991 LEGISLATURE IN OPERATION YOU WILL COME TO SHARE OUR VIEW THAT A FASTER PACE WOULD BE BOTH MANAGEABLE AND DESIRABLE, AND THAT, BY AGREEMENT WITH YOU, AN APPROPRIATE INCREASE MIGHT BE MADE IN 1995 TO CREATE A STEEPER SLOPE WHICH COULD CONTINUE AFTER 1997. ON THIS BASIS, I PROPOSE AT THIS STAGE TO CONFINE MYSELF TO SAYING, AS FAR AS 1995 IS CONCERNED, THAT THERE WILL BE NO FEWER THAN 20 SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE. BUT YOU MAY BE SURE THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO RECOGNISE THE ADVANTAGE OF CONTINUITY BETWEEN ARRANGEMENTS BEFORE AND AFTER 1997.

THERE IS ONE OTHER ISSUE REFERRED TO IN MY PREVIOUS MESSAGES WHICH CONTINUES TO CAUSE ME GREAT CONCERN. THAT IS THE PROVISION FOR SEPARATE VOTE COUNTING WHICH YOU HAVE IN MIND. THIS PROVISION HAS BEEN BADLY RECEIVED IN HONG KONG, WHERE IT IS SEEN AS HIGHLY DIVISIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVELY INEFFICIENT BY MOST

IT PEOPLE. I HAVE TO SAY THAT IF SUCH A PROVISION IS RETAINED, WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO COMMEND, AS WE WOULD WISH, THE ARRANGEMENTS IN THE BASIC LAW CONCERNING THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE. I THEREFORE STRONGLY URGE YOU NOT TO INCLUDE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SEPARATE VOTE COUNTING IN THE BASIC LAW. IS A VERY IMPORTANT POINT FOR OPINION IN HONG KONG.

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I AGREE IN PRINCIPLE WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH YOU PROPOSE FOR AN ELECTORAL COMMITTEE, WHICH COULD BE ESTABLISHED IN 1995. THE PRECISE DETAILS OF HOW THIS SHOULD BE DONE CAN BE DISCUSSED BETWEEN OUR TWO SIDES IN DUE COURSE. MEANWHILE, I HOPE THAT THE FIVE PRINCIPLES WHICH YOU HAVE AGREED CAN BE REFLECTED IN THE BASIC LAW.

I CONTINUE TO FEEL THAT THE LIMIT YOU PROPOSE ON THE NUMBER OF SEATS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE SAR FOR THOSE PERMANENT HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT CHINESE NATIONALS, OR WHO HAVE A RIGHT OF ABODE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, COULD CREATE DIFFICULTIES FOR THE CONTINUITY OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE BETWEEN 1995 AND 1997 WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT PROVISION IN THE PRESENT DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW. IF YOU CONTINUE TO FEEL THAT SOME LIMIT IS ESSENTIAL, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER RAISING THAT LIMIT SO AS TO REDUCE THIS RISK.

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