1990 EXCHANGES
CONFIDENTIAL
Line to Take
We have repeatedly made clear that the exchanges between Britain and China in early 1990 did not
constitute an agreement or understanding on the electoral arrangements for 1995 in Hong Kong.
It is quite clear from the text of the seven messages which we published in 1992 that, at the end of these
exchanges, the question of electoral arrangements in
Hong Kong up to 1997 remained open.
Ministers did not authorise the then Ambassador in
Peking during exchanges between the British and Chinese Governments in 1990 to indicate any agreement
or to reach any understandings not covered in the published exchanges of messages. There is therefore no reason why the Chinese authorities should have gained the impression that HMG believed that any
agreement or understanding had been reached.
CONFIDENTIAL
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