UNCLASSIFIED
MAR 0172/2
TOP
Q DIST?
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FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2913
OF 170948Z DECEMBER 92
INFO ROUTINE PEKING, BONN, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
p.^. Conshteynh
172440 MDLIAN 2515
73
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT : REMARKS BY GERMAN CONSUL GENERAL
1.
THE HK ECONOMIC TIMES CARRIED TODAY (17 DEC) AN INTERVIEW WITH THE NEW GERMAN CONSUL GENERAL IN HONG KONG, WOLFGANG GOETTELMAN. REGARDING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS, GOETTELMAN SAID THAT HE HAD NO INTENTION OF MEDDLING IN HK AFFAIRS AND WOULD NOT MAKE ANY PUBLIC STATEMENT ON THE PROPOSALS: BUT THE GERMAN POSITION IN SUPPORT OF DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT HAD LONG BEEN CLEAR.
HE SAID IT COULD NOT BE DENIED THAT A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM WAS FUNDAMENTAL IN SAFEGUARDING THE PRINCIPLE OF ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS.
2.
GOETTELMAN SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS INDICATED HIS DETERMINATION TO INTRODUCE DEMOCRACY TO HONG KONG. IN HIS PERSONAL VIEW, THESE PROPOSALS WERE MODEST, ACCEPTABLE AND IN LINE WITH HONG KONG'S LONG-TERM INTERESTS. ANYONE WHO DISAGREED WITH THESE PROPOSALS SHOULD PUT FORWARD THEIR COUNTER PROPOSALS. HE ALSO HOPED THAT THE CURRENT DISPUTES COULD BE RESOLVED THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS. HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES COULD EVENTUALLY FIND A SOLUTION ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH OF
THEM.
3. GOETTELMAN TOLD THE PAPER THAT THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESSMEN HAD NOT FELT IMPATIENT WITH THE CURRENT DISPUTES. LONG AS HONG KONG COULD RETAIN ITS FREEDOMS AND REMAIN A COMMUNICATION AND TRADING CENTRE, GERMAN BUSINESS INTEREST HERE
WOULD SUSTAIN.
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