HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
We agreed at OPD (K) on 1 July, at Chris Patten's
suggestion, that the talks with the Chinese on Hong Kong
had made sufficient progress to justify a visit by me, to
Peking. I went on 8 and 9 July, calling into Hong Kong on 9 July to report to the Governor and ExCo.
- I made clear in advance that I was not going to negotiate
and would not be concluding an agreement. Therefore
avoided false expectations or fears in Hong Kong that I
might be undercutting the Governor.
It was a useful visit. It re-established dialogue with the
Chinese Foreign Minister, who brings a broader perspective ·
to discussion of the Hong Kong problem. The Chinese created a positive tone.
On the electoral issue, the Chinese had before my visit set
out their ideas on two of the key issues, the Functional
Constituencies and the Election Committee. I said that we
would be ready to examine revised proposals on these to see
whether they could meet our essential requirements that the
elections should be fair, open and acceptable to Hong Kong
people.
I also emphasised the importance to us of clear criteria on the through train. Qian accepted that this was an issue
for discussion. He also agreed on the need for faster progress and proposed that we meet again in the margins of
the UN in late September to review progress.
sub.cabinet.MORRIS
JEB
CONFIDENTIAL