TNAG-2990-FCO40-3574-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 80

SECRET

106251

MDHOAN 2435

SECRET

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 06003OZ PEKING

TELNO 98

OF 051755Z FEBRUARY 90

LAKOC12/1

YEB 1990

+

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

Y

Mizzi Major

6/2

Wolz

PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR FROM MCLAREN, AUSS

HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR UKREP JLG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY

MY THIRD IPT: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

HONG KONG: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE/ELECTION COMMITTEE

·

1 DURING THEIR MEETING IN PEKING ON 11 JANUARY 1990 WITH THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, MR LI HOU AND MR LU PING OUTLINED THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S THINKING ON THE DRAFTING OF THOSE SECTIONS OF THE BASIC LAW WHICH DEAL WITH THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF THE FUTURE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION. THEY SAID THAT THE BLDC SPECIAL GROUP ON THE POLITICAL SYSTEM HAD ADOPTED THE PROPOSAL THAT A PROPORTION OF THE SAR LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE ELECTED BY A GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE (GEC) OR ELECTION COMMITTEE. THEY SAID SUCH A METHOD WOULD ENABLE SOME PEOPLE OF HIGH STANDING IN HONG KONG, WHO WOULD NOT WISH TO STAND IN DIRECT ELECTIONS, TO PLAY THEIR PART IN THE LEGISLATURE THROUGH ELECTION BY SUCH A BODY. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED THAT SOME MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL COULD BE ELECTED BY THIS METHOD IN 1995 FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ON THE FORMATION AND ELECTION PROCEDURES OF THE ELECTION COMMITTEE. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS EXPLANATION OF CHINESE THINKING.

2. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S VIEW IS THAT ONE OF THE BEST WAYS OF ENSURING A SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT IN 1997 WOULD BE TO PROVIDE THAT ALL MEMBERS ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1995 SHOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OFFICE UNTIL 1999. TO THIS END WE WOULD BE WILLING IN PRINCIPLE TO COOPERATE WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND INTRODUCE THE ELECTION COMMITTEE METHOD OF ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 1995, PROVIDING THAT OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS CAN REACH AN UNDERSTANDING ON SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH ELECTIONS.

3. THE MAIN ASPECTS ON WHICH WE BELIEVE AGREEMENT WOULD BE NECESSARY ARE:-

(A) THE SIZE AND COMPOSITION OF THE ELECTION COMMITTEE, THE

PAGE

SECRET

1