BSN-
071 270 3387:- 3/8
INT BY BSN
N
: 2-1-93 : 10:11:
UP ENGSOT AT 01.39 ALASTAIR GOODLAD, BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE
MINISTER WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG "I don't think that Britain has chosen to pick an argument with Beijing. We entered into an agreement in 1984 which committed the British Covernment and the Government of the
People's Republic of China to work together for the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong; to put in place arrangements for a 'high degree of autonomy', in the words of the Joint Declaration; and a Legislative Council, who would be constituted by election by 1997. Some of the gaps had to be filled in and the Governor had to makeproposals for the 1995 Legislative Council elections. That he has done. And we are hoping that the Chinese will wish to discuss those with us. The proposals were handed to the Chinese Government by the Foreign Secretary in September last year. So, there's no question of seeking to pick a quarrel; quite the reverse. We want, in the interests and prosperity of Hong Kong to talk to the Chinese Government about these proposals."
CUE AT 02.55
The very public and vociferous argument has unsettled many in Hong Kong. The debate has seemed, at times, more to do with Chris Patten than his legislative reform proposals.
UP ENGSOT AT 03.06 TAM YIU CHUNG, MEMBER OF THE HONG KONG
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
"The problem has come from the new Governor, Mr.Patten; because when he arrived (in) Hong Kong, he haven't (sic) to discuss aboutthe political reform with the China side first. He submit his political reform to the public and the Legislative Council. So, the China side were very unhappy about that."
UP ENGSOT AT 03.36 EMILY LAU, MEMBER OF THE HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
"Patten is not coming here to offer this colony independence. Neither is he coming here to offer us full democracy. His package of reforms are so modest that I would describe them as just a drop of democracy. So, the difference is a drop. It's so insignificant. But nevertheless, the Chinese Government has decided to use this as a pretext to pick a fight. And maybe, maybe in the process of Governor Chris Patten trying to push through his package, the Chinese see a threat, a possible threat that they may not be able to exert utter, total and complete control over the colony; probably even before ninety seven."
UP ENGSOT AT 04.26 ALASTAIR GOODLAD, BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE