UNCLASSIFIED
112443
MDHIAN C 2
ONLY REITERATING THEIR STANDPOINT THAT THE BRITISH SIDE SHOULD NOT ENGAGE IN 'PETTY TRICKS'' DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS.
4. THE EXPRESS TODAY (28 JULY) COMMENTED THAT THE TWO SIDES SHOULD STRIVE FOR AN AGREEMENT ON MAJOR ISSUES IN THE TALKS AND SHOULD NOT BE TOO PICKY ABOUT MINOR DETAILS. THERE WAS NO NEED FOR THE CHINESE SIDE TO LINK THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BEC, WHICH WAS ONLY A TECHNICAL MATTER RELATING TO THE 94/95 ELECTIONS WITHIN HKG'S RESPONSIBILITY, WITH ITS PRINCIPLES. SIMILARLY, CHINA HAD NO GROUNDS TO OBJECT TO THE MERGER OF THE TWO DISTRICTS WHICH WAS ONLY AN ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT SUPPORTED BY LEGCO. THE PAPER SAID THAT IF TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ELECTIONS WERE TO BE REGARDED AS ''EVIDENCE'' OF THE BRITISH SIDE OBSTRUCTING THE TALKS, HKG WOULD THEN HAVE TO CONSULT CHINA ON ALMOST ALL MATTERS BEFORE 1997. INDEPENDENT LEGISLATOR EMILY LAU CRITICISED CHINA'S STAND AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NO NEED TO POLITICISE.
FORD
YYYY
MAIN
59
DISTRIBUTION
66
.HK POLICY
HKD
PUSD
FED
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT
LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS
LEGAL ADVISERS//MR GILES
NEWS D
NTCD
PLANNERS
RAD
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES MR HUM
ADDITIONAL
7
CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO) CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES
CAOFF//MR SIBSON
PS NO 10.
NNNN
PAGE
2
UNCLASSIFIED