§ Mr. DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards discussing the Governor of Hong Kong's proposal for the 1995 Legislative Council elections with the People's Republic of China.
§ Mr. GoodladThe Government fully support the Governor's proposals. The Governor has said many times that these are proposals not firm decisions. We are ready to talk to the Chinese Government about them at any time and to discuss any alternative ideas they may have for the 1995 elections, which meet the criteria of fairness, openness and acceptability to the people of Hong Kong.
The proposals will be put to the Hong Kong Legislative Council in the form of draft legislation early next year. The council passed a motion in support of the Government's proposals last month and they have been strongly supported within the community.