GRS 400
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FM HONG KONG
TO FLASH PEKING
TELNO 2658
OF 280215Z NOVEMBER 85
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO
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TOP COPY for
HRK C!!!!
STRY
29 NOV 1985
TRY
INUKA
TAL
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: 2ND MEETING OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP
PRESS REPORTING.
1. THE MEDIA IN GENERAL GAVE PROMINENT COVERAGE TO THE MFA STATEMENT ISSUED IN RESPONSE TO XU'S PRESS CONFERENCE. THEY
NOTED THAT THE STATEMENT SAID IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT IS GOOD ON THE WHOLE, BUT THAT THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS IN REALITY' THE STATEMENT WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE CHINESE WERE CONFIDENT THAT THE PROBLEMS COULD BE SOLVED THROUGH CONSULTATIONS AND DISCUSSION ON THE BASIS OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATIVE SPIRIT. THERE WAS NO (NO)
SUBSTANTIVE COMMENT ON THE STATEMENT.
2. WILSON WAS WIDELY QUOTED AS SAYING THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD HAVE NO DIFFICULTIES IN USING THE FUTURE BNO PASSPORT TO TRAVEL, DESPITE THE APPARENT DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE POSITIONS HE STRESSED THAT THE BNO WOULD BE A VALID DOCUMENT.
3. THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL QUOTED PELIABLE SOURCES AS SAYING THAT CHINA WOULD RAISE POLITICAL REFORMS UNDER ANY OTHER BUSINESS** BRITAIN WOULD AGREE TO LISTEN TO CHINESE VIEWS, BUT THE SUBJECT WOULD NOT BE FORMALLY ON THE AGENDA. THE CHINESE WOULD ARGUE THAT THE 1987 REVIEW SHOULD BE POSTPONED UNTIL AFTER THE
PUBLICATION OF THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW. THE CHINESE WERE
RAISING THE SUBJECT BECAUSE THEY CONSIDERED THAT OPOLITICAL REFORMS
DURING THE TRANSITION WOULD HAVE A BEARING ON A SMOOTH
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