CONST AFFAIRS BRANCH
GIS PRESS ENQUIRIES
+ 852 840 1528
P.04/08
F.002/006
NEWSHOUR 13.00/DEC 16
-2-
PRESENTER: Mr. Sze, you will be aware of the reaction that there has
bean from Beijing. A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry has
said that there is now an end to recotiations. He's accused Britain
and the authorities in Honxa Kona of using trickery, There really is
very little prospect indeed of any further telks with them, is there?
1
MICHAEL SZE: I think the possibilities are slim, but if experience is
eny guide, one should not take these words as cast in concrete.
ESENTER: If China says that any reforms introduced now without its
novel are going to be avertirned, abolished, the moment that Chine
takes control in the colony, is there any point at all in going ahead
with them?
MICHAEL SZE: A choice is sareeing to an understanding with the Chinese
side on the electoral arrangements that will please the Chinese but
will not be acceptable to the people of Hong Kong, nor to the
Legislature. That will be thrown out and then that leaves us in a worse
position with the Chinese side, because we have agreed to something and
we failed to deliver. We must, as the Governor, has said mary meny
times, bring in arrangements that are fair and open and acceptable to
the people of Hong Kong.
The Chinese side have said over and over again that they will do their
very best, even on their own, to preserve the stability and prosperity
of Hong Kong. I wonder whether, if, as the first act of sovereignty,