RESTRICTED
HKB 011/13
RECEIVED IN DEGISTRY
pa
P.". ADPL
060726
MDHIAN 1066
(1)
RESTRICTED
2^ MAY 1993
FM HONG KONG
REGISTRY
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
R
Taken
TELNO 762
OF 150315Z MAY 93
MIPT: VISIT TO LONDON BY MR FREDERICK FUNG AND 2 ADPL
COLLEAGUES.
1. THE SUGGESTED LINES TO TAKE FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND MR GOODLAD ARE AT PARAS 2-9 BELOW.
2.
ON CONTENT AND PROGRESS OF TALKS:
(I) TWO ROUNDS OF TALKS WERE HELD: THEY WERE BUSINESSLIKE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE THIRD ROUND LATER THIS MONTH:
(II) AS AGREED WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, THE CONTENT OF THESE TALKS ARE CONFIDENTIAL, BUT THEIR SCOPE IS ALREADY DEFINED IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON 13 APRIL:
(III) AIM OF THE BRITISH SIDE IS TO ACHIEVE AN UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS WHICH ARE OPEN, FAIR AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF
HONG KONG:
(IV) WE HAVE HAD THE BENEFIT OF LEGCO MEMBERS' VIEWS AS EXPRESSED IN VARIOUS DEBATES IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS. WE HAVE ALSO HAD VIEWS FROM VARIOUS POLITICAL GROUPS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, INCLUDING THOSE PUBLISHED IN THE COMPENDIUM. WE WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR PUBLIC OPINIONS, AND TO LISTEN TO MEMBERS' VIEWS IN THE WEEKS AHEAD:
(V) IF AN UNDERSTANDING IS REACHED WITH THE CHINESE, WE WILL RECOMMEND IT TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND LEGCO. IT WILL BE FOR LEGCO, IN EXERCISING ITS CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE, TO EITHER PASS, AMEND OR REJECT THE RELEVANT DRAFT LEGISLATION.
3.
ON WHY THE TALKS SHOULD BE CONFIDENTIAL:
(I) NATURAL THAT PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS TO FIND OUT THE PROGRESS OF TALKS, BUT WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GIVE THE TALKS THE BEST CHANCE OF COMING TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION.
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