hum14.4cabinet
CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG
We and the Chinese Government reached agreement
shortly before Easter on the arrangements for talks on Hong Kong's electoral issues. Announced on 13 April.
Talks to begin on 22 April led on the British side by our Ambassador to China, Sir R McLaren.
We have been seeking since the Governor announced his constitutional proposals last October to discuss these
with the Chinese side. We came close to reaching
agreement on talks in early March. The issue which
prevented agreement at that time was Chinese
insistence on describing Hong Kong Government participants in the talks in a way which suggested that they had a second class status.
The Chinese have now accepted arrangements that ensure that Hong Kong officials will take part on the same basis as previous negotiations between Britain and
China. They were probably influenced by the prospect that, in the absence of talks, the legislative process in Hong Kong would soon get underway. Their need for international support in their economic reform programme and in their bid for the 2000 olympics may
also be a factor.
A welcome development that talks will now take place. News greeted with relief across the political spectrum in Hong Kong. But talks likely to be difficult and could be long drawn out. Our and the Governor's aim remains that elections should be fair, open and acceptable to the people of Hong Kong.
CONFIDENTIAL