UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2857
UNCLASSIFIED
LNKB3011
OF 260745Z SEPTEMBER 90
- 8 OCT 1990
TOP COPY Q DIST?
INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
(67)
054624
MDLIAN 3721
4/4
INFO ROUTINE HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK, HKGO SAN FRANCISCO INFO ROUTINE HKGO GENEVA, UKMIS GENEVA
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: PRESS COVERAGE: WEEKLY ROUNDUP
SUMMARY
1.
LORD CAITHNESS'S VISIT RECEIVED GOOD MEDIA COVERAGE DURING THE WEEK. OTHER NEWS ITEMS RELATING TO THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY, EXCEPT THE REPLACEMENT AIRPORT PROJECT, RECEIVED ROUTINE COVERAGE.
FOR MINISTER'S VISIT
2.
1 1
LORD CAITHNESS HELD A ONE-HOUR MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF SIX MAJOR POLITICAL GROUPS, THE MEDIA (20.9) REPORTED WIDELY. AT THE MEETING, LORD CAITHNESS AND THE GROUPS EXCHANGES VIEWS ON THE 1991 ELECTIONS, HK'S FUTURE POLITICAL ARRANGEMENTS, THE NEW PORT AND AIRPORT PROJECTS AND SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS. IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS ON THE 1991 DIRECT POLLS AFTER HIS MEETING WITH THE GROUPS, LORD CAITHNESS DESCRIBED NEXT YEAR AS AN IMPORTANT TIME'' FOR HK. ''WE WANT AS MANY PEOPLE TO TAKE PART AND CONTRIBUTE AS POSSIBLE, HE SAID. THE MINISTER SAID THAT THE BRITISH WOULD NEGOTIATE WITH CHINA FOR MORE DIRECTLY-ELECTED SEATS FOR LEGCO IN 1995 IF THE 1991 DIRECT POLLS PROVED TO BE A SUCCESS. HE SAID THAT THE MEETING WAS VERY USEFUL AND MADE HIM UNDERSTAND THE DEVELOPMENT OF GROUPS IN THE TERRITORY.
3.
II
COMMENTING ON LORD CAITHNESS' REMARKS ON THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY-ELECTED SEATS, A SOURCE FROM THE CHINESE SIDE TOLD SING PAO (20.9) THAT THE BL HAD ALREADY SET OUT THE PACE OF DEMOCRATISATION IN HK AND THE NEED FOR CONVERGENCE FOR THE POLITICAL SYSTEM. SUCH ARRANGEMENTS COULD NOT BE EASILY CHANGED, HE ADDED. ZHOU NAN, WHEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON LORD CAITHNESS'S REMARKS ON THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY-ELECTED SEATS FOR LEGCO, QUOTED LI HOU, VICE DIRECTOR OF THE HK AND MACAU AFFAIRS OFFICE, AS SAYING THAT THE BL HAD ALREADY SET OUT STIPULATIONS ON THE MATTER, ADDING THAT CHANGES TO THE MINI-CONSTITUTION SHOULD BE MADE ONLY AFTER 1997.
4.
AT A PRESS CONFERENCE LORD CAITHNESS SAID THAT SINO-BRITISH
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