115
PRIME MINISTER'S QUESTION TIME: 20 MAY
HONG KONG
Welcome talks with
China on Hong Kong electoral issues. Hope we can get down discussing details at third round due to start tomorrow.
- Our aim is to reach an understanding with China on arrangements to ensure that the 1995 elections will be fair,
open and acceptable to Hong Kong people.
- If we do reach an
understanding, the British and Hong Kong Governments will recommend this to the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. It will be for them to pass the necessary legislation.
(Status of Hong Kong team members?)
- The talks are between the two sovereign powers. Our team is led by the Ambassador in Peking, Sir Robin McLaren; but other British and Hong Kong officials are participating in these talks on exactly the same basis as they have in the past.
(Defensive: Will talks delay legislation?)
Governor and his Executive Council will take decisions on putting the legislation to LegCo in the light of progress in the talks.
We need to make good progress, so that legislation will be in
place in time for the District
Board elections in 1994.
SIR PERCY CRADOCK IN PEKING
- Sir Percy Cradock is now a private individual. He is travelling to China in that capacity. And the decision to visit China at this time is entirely his own.
He is not an emissary from HMG to the Chinese authorities and
is not carrying any message from HMG.
HKB 011/6
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
20 MAY 1993
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
15ap.pm.PR
SLM