TNAG-2991-FCO40-3566-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 39

SECRET

034423

MDHIAN

5

(C) MAXIMISING THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND MUNICIPAL COUNCILS:

(D) INTRODUCING A VOTING METHOD WHICH IS RECOGNISED AS DEMOCRATIC AND FAIR (E.G. SINGLE-SEAT CONSTITUENCIES):

(E) WIDENING THE FRANCHISE OF EXISTING FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, E.G. REPLACING CORPORATE ELECTORS BY INDIVIDUAL ELECTORS, AND CREATING DEMOCRATICALLY-BASED NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES: AND

(F) FORMING THE ELECTION COMMITTEE (TO ELECT 10 MEMBERS TO LEGCO IN 1995) ON THE MOST DEMOCRATIC BASIS POSSIBLE.

10.

WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO CONSULT THE CHINESE ON THE 1995 LEGCO ARRANGEMENTS. CHINESE ACCEPTANCE OF SOME BUT NOT ALL OF THE MEASURES IN PARAGRAPH 9 MIGHT BE ACHIEVABLE. BUT WE MUST EXPECT A TOUGH STRUGGLE. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE CHINESE WILL SEEK TO DISOWN ANYTHING THEY HAVE NOT SPECIFICALLY AGREED, AND THREATEN DISCONTINUITY OF LEGCO IN 1997. BUT THEY WILL NOT FIND IT EASY TO CONVINCE HK PEOPLE, AND THE WORLD AT LARGE, THAT ANY OF THE MEASURES IN PARAGRAPH 9 ABOVE ARE CLEARLY AGAINST THE BASIC LAW. PROVIDED WE DO NOT OURSELVES BREACH THE BASIC LAW ON THE QUESTION OF LEGCO'S OVERALL COMPOSITION OR ANYTHING ELSE, THEY WILL NOT BE ON STRONG GROUND IF THEY ANNOUNCE THAT THERE CAN BE NO THROUGH TRAIN OF ANY SORT.

TIMING AND TACTICS

11. FINALLY, THERE IS QUESTION OF TIMING AND TACTICS. DECISIONS ON THE FUTURE OF EXCO, AND ON THE PACKAGE OF MEASURES FOR THE 1995 LEGCO, SHOULD FORM THE MAIN PLANK OF MY LEGCO ADDRESS IN EARLY OCTOBER. I WOULD NOT WISH TO ANNOUNCE THEM WITHOUT GIVING THE CHINESE SOME FOREWARNING. THIS COULD BE DONE THROUGH A PRIVATE (OFFICIAL) MESSENGER. YOUR MEETING WITH QIAN QICHEN IN NEW YORK ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY.

12.

BUT THERE IS ONE POINT ON WHICH WE NEED TO BE CLEAR FORM THE OUTSET. WE WILL NEED TO TALK THROUGH THE PROPOSED 1995 ELECTION ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE CHINESE, AS WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO DO. BUT ONCE WE HAVE SET OUT PUBLICLY OUR VIEWS ON THESE ARRANGEMENTS, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE SEEN TO BE RETREATING IN ANY SIGNIFICANT WAY FORM THIS POSITION. THIS MAKES IT ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THE PACKAGE RIGHT FROM THE START.

PAGE

SECRET

4