Some two months ago, we renewed our efforts to get talks
underway with China. Since then, there have been intensive
diplomatic contacts in Peking. It may be useful for the House
if I set out the basis on which we were prepared to hold
discussions.
First, we accepted that the talks should be on the basis of
the Joint Declaration, the principle of convergence with the
Basic Law and the relevant understandings and agreements
reached between Britain and China. We consider the Governor's
proposals to be wholly compatible with these.
Second, as I made plain to the House on 10 March, we told the
Chinese side that the British team in these discussions would
include representatives of the Hong Kong Government on the
same basis as other officials taking part in the talks.
has been the practice for many years.
This
In a further effort to get talks started, we and the Governor
decided, with the advice of the Executive Council in Hong
Kong, to postpone the original plan to publish the draft
electoral legislation in Hong Kong's Official Gazette on 12
February. As the diplomatic contacts proceeded, we held up
publication for five weeks. But we told the Chinese side that
it was not possible to delay indefinitely, given the need to
pass legislation before the Legislative Council rose for its
summer recess in July.
sosstatement15.3No1