Way out of impasse
ONE of the criteria for Legislators elected in 1995 to continue to be in the First Special Administrative Region (SAR) Legislature, is the composition and the method of election of the last Legislature under the British Administration being the same as that specified in the Basic Law for the first SAR Legislature.
Unfortunately, wide differences in interpretation of the Basic Law and 1990 diplomatic exchanges appear to make it almost impossible for current or future Sino-British talks to agree on such a composition and method of election. So, it would appear to bein the best interests of all parties concerned for Britain and China to agree to disagree on the political reforms. Hongkong could then benefit from the welcome improvement in relationships on the economic front.
This could best be achieved by Britain implementing whatever proposals for the 1994/95 election they consider to be consistent with their interpretations of the Basic Law and the 1990 diplomatic exchanges, although Legco Councillors' terms would only be up to June, 1997.
This would enable the election of legislators who would be appropriate for a colonial administration from 1995 till 1997. It would also enable those staying in Hongkong after 1997 to elect legislators who would be appropriate for a local administration.
The proposed arrangement would enable anyone wishing to be in the first SAR Legislature, including any and every member of the United Democrats of Hongkong (UDHK), also, to contest the 1997 elections and be duly elected.
The UDHK may themselves prefer such an arrangement, as was hinted by Mr Martin Lee through a recent public statement on the question of the so called ''through train'' and through passengers' concepts.
BERNARD WIJEDORU Kowloon
