UNCLASSIFIED
10 21
MDHIAN 9861
GROUNDS THAT BOTH HAD A VERY NARROW FRANCHISE. THE BRITISH SIDE FELT THAT THERE WERE ALREADY CHANNELS, SUCH AS THE CHINESE GENCHAM AND CMA, WHEREBY CHINA-FUNDED ENTERPRISES COULD RETURN REPRESENTATIVES TO LEGCO. TO GIVE A LEGCO SEAT TO THE CHINESE ENTERPRISES ASSOCIATION WOULD CLEARLY CONSTITUTE SPECIAL TREATMENT WHICH MIGHT INVITE OTHER FOREIGN ENTERPRISES TO FOLLOW SUIT. CHINESE SOURCES HOWEVER SAID THAT CHINESE ENTERPRISES SHOULD HAVE A SEAT IN LEGCO IN VIEW OF ITS HEAVY INVESTMENT IN HK BEFORE AND AFTER 1997.
4.
THE EXPRESS, WAH KIU YAT PO AND SING TAO DAILY GENERALLY BELIEVED THAT THE THROUGH TRAIN REMAINED THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUE AT THE TALKS. THE LEFT-WING UNITED DAILY BELIEVED THAT IF THE BRITISH SIDE WERE READY TO MAKE MORE CONCESSIONS ON THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND ELECTION COMMITTEE, THE CHINESE SIDE MIGHT AGREE TO COME UP WITH OBJECTIVE CRITERIA FOR THE THROUGH TRAIN BEFORE 1995.
5.
THE PRO-LEFT WING TIN TIN DAILY NEWS REPORTED THAT A POSSIBLE RESOLUTION TO THE THROUGH TRAIN QUESTION WOULD BE, AS RUMOURED, FOR THE CHINESE SIDE TO DRAW UP LEGISLATION FOR LEGCO ELECTIONS BEYOND 1997, WHICH WOULD BE RATIFIED BY THE NPC STANDING COMMITTEE. THE CRITERIA FOR LEGISLATORS ELECTED IN 1995 TO RIDE THE THROUGH TRAIN WOULD BE SET OUT IN SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION TO THIS LAW. THIS SET OF CRITERIA SHOULD BE ANNOUNCED BEFORE THE 1995 ELECTIONS AND WOULD BE USED BY THE SARPC FOR ''TICKET INSPECTION''.
6. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE BBC, PAPERS QUOTED THE GOVERNOR AS SAYING THAT THERE HAD BEEN MORE PROGRESS IN THE LAST THREE ROUNDS OF TALKS BUT THERE WAS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO. THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAID THAT HE WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED WITH THE EIGHT ROUND OF TALKS
ALTHOUGH HE HAD HOPED FOR A FASTER PACE. HE REPEATED THAT NO DEADLINE WOULD BE SET FOR THE TALKS BUT WHEN THE FINAL MOMENT CAME
HKG WOULD HAVE TO TABLE THE REFORM BILL IN LEGCO.
PATTEN
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