4.
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STATEMENTS BY CHINESE LEADERS:
The Chinese Premier, Mr. Zhao Ziyang, in his New Year message, called on compatriots in HK, Macau and Taiwan to work towards the common goal of promoting unification of China. He envisaged the day would eventually come when the Chinese race would unite again.
On 10 February, the Chinese Foreign Minister, Mr. Wu Xuequian, held a press conference in Beijing, the first for many years by a Chinese official holding that position. He said the talks were still focusing on procedural matters and the two sides had not yet started discussing substantive issues. He also said China's stand on the 1997 question was very clear and progress of the talks hinged on Britain's attitude.
The SCMP and HK Standard carried a Reuters Beijing despatch which said the Chinese Foreign Minister, asked by reporters when people of the territory could expect guarantees of the maintenance of liberties under Chinese rule, had replied that progress in the confidential talks depended on Britain. China's position was clear. The report said no details had emerged from the British side on the discussions.
The SCMP on 17 February reported that a senior Chinese State Councillor, Mr. Bo Yibo, had said the recovery of sovereignty of HK by 1997 at the latest was one of the three notable developments prevailing in China, but he did not elaborate. Mr. Bo, who was speaking at a party for 4 500 "compatriots" from Taiwan, HK and Macau, spoke of a new era in China's diplomacy.
5.
SDP's POLICY TOWARDS HK:
In a despatch from London, a Sing Tao Jih Pao correspondent said Dr. David Owen of the Social Democratic Party would write to the Foreign Secretary, urging him to ensure that there were adequate avenues for HK people to express their wishes and that they must be kept informed of progress of the talks. Another Social Democrat, Mr. Ian Wrigglesworth, said unless these measures were taken by the British Government, he would move a motion in Parliament to ensure HK people gained an independent voice in the diplomatic talks. The two were speaking after a meeting of the Party's International Affairs Committee during which Mr. John MacKenzie, Chairman of the SDP HK Group and a former UC member, tabled a paper outlining the Party's policy on HK.
The English-language papers reported that Mr. Wrigglesworth had called for an "input of some kind" for local people in the Sino-British talks, and the Party's International Affairs Committee chairman, Dr. David Owen, was to write to Mr. Pym suggesting ways in which local feelings could be formally expressed.
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