Updaty
Øcrober.
4.
Mr Goodlad reported to the Committee on 9 July on the
Foreign Secretary's meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister in
Peking on 8-9 July. The Foreign Secretary met the Chinese
Foreign Minister again on 1 October, in the margins of the
United Nations General Assembly in New York. The Foreign
working for success in the talks. He agreed Secretary emphasised that we are serious in wanting to work for with the Chinese freis- Minister Had effects should be continued during October to read agreement. Ye Hot an agreement but that there is a point beyond "which we cannot go
etections are to be fack epe and alphable
if our essential requirements are to be met. It was agreed that.
the talks would continue during October The next Round is on
11-12 October. But the Foreign Secretary made plain that there
are now weeks rather than months for an agreement to be
reached. The do no
5.
ir a
have infinite time to reach agreement, pashto terpand which are cannot go if elections are to be open,
and Had Here
four and acceptable.
On 6 October the Governor will be making his annual policy
address to the Legislative Council. We will circulate copies of his speech to members of the Committee.
JOINT LIAISON GROUP
He added Hal if agreement
Cannot be reached, Mer Majesty's Government woved have to take Heir responsibilities.
6. A meeting of the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group was held in Peking in September. Here too, progress was much slower than we would have wished. The Joint Liaison Group has an important
agenda of work, much of it legal and technical, aimed at
ensuring a smooth transition in 1997. If this agenda is not
completed, there could be uncertainty and confusion in important
areas such as Hong Kong's legal and commercial relationship with the outside world. The British side have put forward proposals
in all these areas for discussion. We would like to see much
faster progress.
AIRPORT AND RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
A-B
7. The Airport Committee held meetings in June and August.
Agreement was reached on some important elements of the airport project, including the franchise for the Western Harbour
fac.enq.PR
SLM