CONFIDENTIAL
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MDHIAN 5691
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IN
ISTRY
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
24 JUN
CESK OFFICER
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
TELNO 994
OF 211013Z JUNE 93.
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TOP COPY Q DIST?
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PRESS REPORTS
1. A COMMENTARY IN THE SATURDAY (19 JUNE) ISSUE OF WEN WEI PO
LASHED OUT AT THE LACK OF SINCERITY OF THE BRITISH SIDE TOWARDS THE TALKS. IT ACCUSED THE BRITISH SIDE OF DEVIATING FROM THE THEME OF
THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS BY RAISING MATTERS CONCERNED WITH CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY, NAMELY THE QUESTION OF THE THROUGH TRAIN AND PARTICIPATION IN THE SAR PREPARATORY COMMITTEE. THE BRITISH SIDE
HAD ALSO ASKED FOR A FULLY ELECTED LEGISLATURE BY THE YEAR 2007.
2"
MANY PAPERS REPORTED TODAY THAT AN ASSISTANT TO NCNA DIRECTOR CHEN FENGYING DECLINED TO COMMENT ON GROUNDS OF CONFIDENTIALITY, THE CONTENT OF BRITISH PROPOSALS AS REFERRED TO IN THE WEN WEI PO COMMENTARY. SHE SAID THAT THE SETTING UP OF THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE WAS A MATTER FOR THE CHINESE SIDE.
3.
A CHINA NEWS AGENCY COMMENTARY ISSUED ON 20 JUNE ALSO PICKED ON
THE THEME OF SINCERITY. THE COMMENTARY ATTRIBUTED THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN THE PAST FIVE ROUNDS AND THE WIDENING GAP BETWEEN THE
TWO SIDES ON CERTAIN ISSUES TO THE BRITISH SIDE'S CONTINUED
INSISTENCE ON THE GOVERNOR'S CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS. THE WRITER
CRITICISED BRITAIN FOR DISREGARDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS: PAYING LIP SERVICE TO THE ''THREE CONFORMITIES'': AND GIVING MISLEADING STATEMENTS THAT THE TALKS WERE PROGRESSING WELL WITH THE
BRITISH SIDE MAKING POSITIVE MOVES. THE COMMENTARY LISTED A SERIES
OF BRITISH ACTIONS WHICH IT CLAIMED TO HAVE POSED OBSTACLES TO THE TALKS AND DEMONSTRATED INSINCERITY: THE THREE PETTY TRICKS'' THE
MERGER OF THE YAU TSIM AND MONGKOK DBS AND STATEMENT BY FCO LOCAL
SPOKESMAN THAT THE 1990 EXCHANGE OF DIPLOMATIC LETTERS DID NOT
CONSTITUTE AN AGREEMENT.
COMMENT
OF
CONFIDENCE IN
COMMITTEE HAS
THE WWP EDITORIAL APPEARS TO BE A BREACH DISCLOSING TWO OF OUR THREE DEMANDS OTHER THAN THE ''THROUGH TRAINI ALTHOUGH OUR POINT ON THE PREPARATORY
4.
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CONFIDENTIAL