supp.PQ.rod
British undermined talks while in progress?
No reason why publication or even consideration of the
draft legislation by the Legislative Council - - should be a
barrier to talks with China. The legislative process will
take months, and we have said we will recommend to LegCo
any understandings we reach with China.
Chinese not consulted; should have been; China not given face - I gave advance briefing to Chinese Foreign Minister in New
York on 25 September. Governor also sent a message to Lu Ping going over the same ground. We made it clear we wanted to discuss his proposals fully with the Chinese side and that they were proposals, not firm decisions.
- We have been pressing Chinese side to begin talks. Have
said that we would recommend any agreement we reached to the
Legislative Council.
-
Understanding reached in the exchange of messages between
Foreign Secretary and Chinese Foreign Minister in early 1990?
No. Documents make it clear that there was no secret deal.
We were prepared to agree in principle to the composition of the Election Committee, subject to a number of conditions.
The Chinese failed to meet the conditions of the offer. The
fact that they have since treated the composition of the
1995 Election Committee as a matter still to be decided
shows that they did not consider it as settled.
When will you next discuss Hong Kong with the Chinese Foreign____
Minister?
-
We have agreed with the Chinese Government that Foreign
Ministers should meet twice a year to discuss Hong Kong. We last met in September in New York. No arrangements yet made for our next meeting. I would want to see some prospect of
progress being made before setting up a meeting.
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