UNCLASSIFIED
054717
MDHOAN 4280
CONTRARY TO THE JOINT DECLARATION AND CONTRARY TO AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS IN HONG KONG SHOULD CONVERGE WITH THE BASIC LAW. NATURALLY THEREFORE THIS HAD AROUSED CONCERN AND OPPOSITION AMONG THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND IN CHINA. SO NOW PEOPLE COULD NOT BUT ASK WHETHER THEY SHOULD STICK TO THE JOINT DECLARATION OR WHETHER THE IMPORTANT UNDERSTANDINGS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ON THE CONVERGENCE OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT WITH THE BASIC LAW SHOULD GO TO THE WINDS.
5. THE CHINESE REGARDED THIS AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE. CHINA ALWAYS LAID GREAT IMPORTANCE ON MATTERS OF PRINCIPLE. CHINA DID NOT SEEK CONFRONTATION ON THE HONG KONG QUESTION. CONFRONTATION HAD NOT BEEN PROVOKED BY CHINA. THEY WANTED COOPERATION, NOT CONFRONTATION. NO ONE SHOULD EXPECT THAT CONFRONTATION WOULD FORCE THE CHINESE INTO CONCESSIONS. NO ONE SHOULD MAKE A MIS JUDGEMENT. THE CHINESE HOPED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT COULD RETURN TO THE TRACK OF COOPERATION AND CONSULTATION.
6. MISS ROSEMARY RIGHTER (THE TIMES) QUESTIONED ZHU'S REFERENCE TO OPPOSITION IN HONG KONG TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS. THEY APPEARED TO BE SUPPORTED BY OPINION POLLS. SHE ALSO ASKED WHY THE CHINESE DID NOT RESPOND TO THE GOVERNOR'S SUGGESTION THAT ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS SHOULD BE TABLED.
ZHU SAID THAT HE HAD ALREADY MADE THE CHINESE POSITION VERY CLEAR. HE COMMENTED THAT OPINION POLLS VARIED ENORMOUSLY AS HAD BEEN EVIDENT IN THE US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. HE HIMSELF READ THE HONG KONG PRESS DAILY AND SAW MANY DIFFERENT OPINION POLLS. ONE RECENT ONE HAD INDICATED THAT 60 PER CENT OF RESPONDENTS WOULD NOT SUPPORT IMPORTANT CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS THAT HAD NOT BEEN PUT TO THE CHINESE IN ADVANCE.
8.
RAYMOND WHITTAKER (THE INDEPENDENT) ASKED WHETHER DIFFERENCES OVER HONG KONG WOULD AFFECT SINO-BRITISH TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS. ZHU REPLIED: QUOTE WE MUST WAIT AND SEE UNQUOTE. THERE WERE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
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