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HKB 011/7
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177614 MDHIAN 2822
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JUN 1013
FM PEKING
DESK OFFICIA
REGISTRY
TO DESKBY 29100OZ FCO
INDEX
PA
Action Taker
TELNO 752
OF 290936Z MAY
INFO DESKBY 29 100OZ HONG KONG
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
YOUR TELNO 326 AND HONG KONG TELNO 865: HONG KONG: TALKS WITH THE CHINESE ON ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS: ROUND. FOUR: SECOND DAY SUMMARY AND COMMENTS
SUMMARY
·
1 HEAVY GOING. DISCUSSION OF SPECIFIC ISSUES OVERSHADOWED BY DISAGREEMENT OVER THE WAY FORWARD: I PRESS THE CHINESE SIDE TO GIVE US THEIR VIEWS ON ALL THE MAIN ISSUES SO THAT SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS CAN BEGIN: CHINESE UNWILLING TO DISCUSS ANY PROPOSALS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S PACKAGE AND WANT US TO COME UP WITH ALTERNATIVES. NEXT ROUND ON 14-16 JUNE BUT LAST-MINUTE CHINESE HITCH OVER TIMING OF ANNOUNCEMENT.
DETAIL
2. I BEGAN BY SETTING OUT OUR VIEWS ON THE DISTRICT BOARDS (DBS) AND MUNICIPAL COUNCILS (MCS). I ADDED THAT IN OUR VIEW PROGRESS SO FAR IN THE TALKS HAD BEEN DISAPPOINTINGLY SLOW: AND THAT MINISTERS WERE WATCHING THE TALKS CLOSELY AND WISHED TO SEE REAL EVIDENCE THAT THE CHINESE SIDE WERE SINCERE IN WANTING TO REACH EARLY AGREEMENT.
3.
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED UNDER
FOI EXEMPTION NO....2.7.6)
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