SECRET
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145707 MDHIAN 6535
Pa (122
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1866
OF 101102Z DECEMBER 1993
63
TC COPY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
Q DIST?
Talks on 94/95 Elections: LegCo Question 15 December
Mr Eric Li will ask the following oral question at the LegCo sitting on 15 December:
''In order for this Council and the people of Hong Kong to make a well informed decision on the electoral matters that the Government has just placed an amendment bill before us, will the Government give a full account on all the discussions held so far behind closed doors between the British and Chinese Governments?''
2. The reply we give on 15 December will depend on developments in the next few days, in particular whether a decision has been taken to release the White Paper. We propose the following reply, if by then we have not announced that a White Paper will be published :
''Mr President,
When the Talks on the 1994/95 Electoral Arrangements started in April, we explained in public the basis for the Talks. We also explained that to give the talks the maximum chance to succeed, one of the things we have agreed is that the negotiations would take place in confidence. This is still our position. As honourable members know, we remain ready to continue with the talks on the agreed basis, in an attempt to seek agreement on the remaining, more complex issues not covered in the Bill which I shall be introducing into this Council later today. We are waiting for the Chinese side's response to our proposal for dates for the next round. In the circumstances it would not be right to give a public account Cat this stage] of all the discussions.
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If by then we have released, or announced that we will release the White Paper, we will simply refer to the White Paper or the announcement.
4. Grateful for comments Deskby 140830z.