GRS 260
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2929
OF 31094OZ DECEMBER 85
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
RESTRICTED
TOP CUP
нии осои
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
- 2 JAN 1986
182
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS BRIEFING BY BLCC OFFICIAL.
a
1. PROMINENT AND WIDESPREAD COVERAGE HAS BEEN GIVEN IN THE LOCAL
MEDNA TO REMARKS MADE BY SHU SIN-BOR, DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE BASIC LAW CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE, AT A BRIEFING ON 30 DECEMBER.
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE BRIEFING WAS TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF THE NEXT MEETING OF THE BLCC. SHU THEN SPOKE AT SOME LENGTH, AND, IN THEORY, OFF-THE-RECORD, PICKING UP XU JHATUN'S ALLEGATIONS OF DEVIATION FROM THE JOINT DECLARATION. ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, THE MAIN
POINTS MADE BY SHU WERE AS FOLLOWS:
A) XU'S REFERENCE TO DEVNATION WAS DIRECTED AT THE BRITISH
GOVERNMENT. LAST SEPTEMBER'S LEGCO ELECTIONS HAD BEEN A VIOLATION
OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, SINCE THEY REPRESENTED FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES
TO HONG KONG'S ADMINISTRATION.
B) SUCH REFORMS WOULD AFFECT THE CHANGE-OVER IN 1997 AND SHOULD HAVE
BEEN DISCUSSED BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA. CHINA WAS UNHAPPY BECAUSE
BRITAIN HAD REFUSED TO DISCUSS THEM.
C) JH PENGFE WOULD HAVE ADOPTED A TOUGHER LINE DURING HIS VISIT TO
HONG KONG IF THE JLG HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DISCUSS THE REFORMS
BEFOREHAND.
D) MT WAS ''IRRESPONSIBLE TO SAY THAT, BECAUSE BOTH WOULD BE
DETERMINED BY HONG KONG PUBLIC OPINION, THE DEVELOPMENT OF
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AND THE FUTURE BASIC LAW WOULD NOT BE IN
CONFLICT.
RESTILOILO