UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1190
UNCLASSIFIED
HKB 301/2
RECEIVED IN BEGISTRY
03 AC 1993
p.m. Press Roundyys
073,637 MDHIAN 9518
68
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY *
INDEX
PA
Action Take
DIST?
OF 201245Z JULY 93
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, OKREP JLG HỒNG KONG
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PRESS REPORTS 20 JULY 1993.
TALKS:
1.
THE GOVERNOR:S INTERVIEW WITH REUTERS YESTERDAY WAS WIDELY NOTED. THE GOVERNOR WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT HE WOULD GIVE A FULL ACCOUNT ON HONG KONG'S DEMOCRATIC FUTURE IN EARLY OCTOBER IN HIS SECOND POLICY ADDRESS BUT HE DECLINED TO SET A DEADLINE ON THE TALKS.
2 =
THE PAPERS NOTED THAT SIR ROBIN MCLAREN SAID IN PEKING YESTERDAY THAT HE HOPED THE EIGHTH ROUND OF TALKS WOULD MAKE MORE PROGRESS AFTER THE RECENT MEETING BETWEEN THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY AND THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER. HE WOULD NOT COMMENT ON WHETHER THE 'THROUGH TRAIN' REMAINED A BRITISH SIDE'S BOTTOM LINE, SAYING THAT S OF S HAD ALREADY STATED CLEARLY THE BRITISH STAND DURING HIS VISITS TO PEKING AND HONG KONG.
3.
A SIGNED COMMENTARY ISSUED BY THE CNA ON THE EVE OF THE EIGHTH ROUND OF TALKS REPORTED THAT THERE WOULD BE QUICK PROGRESS IF BOTH SIDES COULD STICK TO THE PRINCIPLE OF 'THREE CONFORMITIES' AND FOCUS THEIR DISCUSSIONS ON THE 1994/95 ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS. SHOULD THE BRITISH SIDE RAISE DEMANDS AT THE TALKS WHICH INVOLVED CHINA'S SOVEREIGNTY, SUCH AS ALLOWING THE BRITISH A ROLE IN THE SARPC OR SELECTING THE SAR CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THE NEGOTIATIONS WOULD INEVITABLY FALL INTO AN IMPASSE.
THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL UNDERSTOOD THAT THE MAIN THEME OF THE EIGHTH ROUND OF TALKS WOULD BE THE QUESTION OF THE 'THROUGH TRAIN'. QUOTING SOURCES CLOSE TO THE BRITISH SIDE, THE PAPER REPORTED THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD POINTED OUT THAT ARTICLE 104
OF THE BL WOULD BE THE BEST AND THE SIMPLEST OBJECTIVE CRITERIA FOR THE THROUGH TRAIN'. THE CHINESE SIDE SHOULD THEREFORE RAISE CONCRETE PROPOSALS IF THEY DISAGREED. DEPENDING ON THE PROGRESS ON THE 'THROUGH TRAIN' ISSUE, THE BRITISH SIDE MIGHT, IN RESPONSE TO CHINESE PROPOSALS ON THE NINE NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, TABLE
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