SECRET
FM PEKING
TO DESKBY 02110OZ FCO
TELNO 134
OF 020955Z FEBRUARY 90
SECRET
HKB 006/12
RECE }
15 FEB 1998
DESY OFFICE
INDEX
077452
MDHIAN 4977
TOP COPY Ò DIST ?
INFO DESKBY 02110OZ HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
PERSONAL FOR MCLAREN, AUSS
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
UKREP JLG HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY
HONG KONG
DR OWEN HAD JUST OVER 40 MINUTES CONVERSATION WITH LI PENG ON AFTERNOON OF 2 FEBRUARY. FOLLOWING IS AN ACCOUNT OF THAT PART WHICH CONCERNS THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
2-
HE
FOLLOWING A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE RELATIVE SIZE OF POLICE FORCES IN CHINA, JAPAN, SINGAPORE AND HONG KONG, DR OWEN INTRODUCED THE SUBJECT OAS HONG KONG BY RECALLING HOW WHEN HE WAS FOREIGN SECRETARY HE WAS CONSTANTLY CONCERNED WITH HONG KONG PROBLEMS. SAID THAT HE WAS WORRIED THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA MIGHT BE PUT IN JEOPARDY. IN BRITISH POLITICS, HE WAS IN OPPOSITION TO THE GOVERNMENT, BUT ON THE ISSUE OF HONG KONG HE WAS BROADLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION.
REFERRING TO THE CURRENT DIFFICULTIES OVER THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE FUTURE LEGISLAAURE IN HONG KONG, DR OWEN SAID THAT IT SEEMED THAT CHINA HAD MOVED SOMEWHAT. HOWEVER, THE SEQUENCE OF 18 DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS THROUGH 24 TO 30 PUT THE PROMESS TOO FAR INTO THE FUTURE. HE SAW THE ADVANTAGES OF INTRODUCING A GREATER DEGREE OF DEMOCRACY EARLIER IN HONG KONG AUD HOPED IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE CHINESE SIDE TO AGREE TO THE INTRODUCTION OFS24 DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS EARLIER. HE STRESSED THAT HE WAS NOT NEGOTIATING SINCE IT WAS NOT HIS BUSINESS TO DO SO. BUT COULD THE PRIME MINISTER SEE HIS WAY TO GETTING MORE FLEXIBILITY INTO THE CHINESE POSITION? IT SEEMED TO HIM THAT IT WAS NOT A QUESTION OF ANY CHANGE IN THE ACTUAL NUMBERS: IT WAS RATHER A QUESTION OF BRINGING THE NUMBER OF 24 FORWARD TO AN EARLIER POSITION IN THE TIME SCALE.
4.
PREMIER LI PENG SAID THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ACTED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF ENSURING A PEACEFUL AND STEADY TRANSITION TO 1997 WHEN
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