SECRET
HAB 012/1
RECE
RISTRY
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 847
OF 26072OZ MAY 93
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
p.y. Com. Despr
Gen!
105722
MDHIAN 2244
118
EXCO, 25 MAY: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
1. THE POLITICAL ADVISER REPORTED AND COMMENTED ON THE THIRD ROUND OF TALKS, ON THE LINES OF PEKING TELNOS 718 AND 720.
2. I SAID THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE CLEAR AT THE FOURTH ROUND THAT WE WOULD ONLY BE IN A POSITION TO STRIKE A DEAL WHEN WE SAW THE WHOLE CHINESE POSITION. WHEN MR GOODLAD WAS IN HONG KONG, I WANTED TO HOLD A DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNCIL ON THE SORT OF COMPROMISES WHICH WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO US, IF THE CHINESE HAD TOLD US ALL OF THEIR PROPOSALS BY THEN.
3. THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID THAT IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO KEEP THE PACKAGE TOGETHER. IF THE CHINESE MANAGED TO SEPARATE THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND MUNICIPAL COUNCILS FROM THE REMAINDER, THEY WOULD BE UNDER NO PRESSURE TO REACH A FINAL DEAL SOON.
4. MEMBERS AGREED WITH THE STRATEGY FOR ROUND FOUR, I.E. THAT WE SHOULD EXPLAIN OUR POSITION ON THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND MUNICIPAL COUNCILS BUT MAKE CLEAR THAT WE WOULD NOT BE IN A POSITION TO JUDGE HOW TO REACH AN AGREEMENT UNTIL THE CHINESE HAD GIVEN US ALL THEIR OWN PROPOSALS AND A RESPONSE TO OUR PROPOSALS ON THE THROUGH TRAIN ETC.
5. MEMBERS ALSO AGREED THAT WE SHOULD USE THE LINE IN OUR TELNO 836 IN SPEAKING TO THE CHINESE ON THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION
COMMISSION BILL.
PATTEN
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