UNCLASSIFIED
HKB 301/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
0 JUN 1003
33
121426
MDLIAN 6421
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 886
OF 01112OZ JUNE 93
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TOP COPY
Q DIST?
Pa
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PRESS REPORTS
CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE
1. THE LEGCO CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PANEL'S ENDORSEMENT OF MARTIN LEE'S PROPOSAL TO HOLD REGULAR AND OPEN MEETINGS BY THE PANEL TO DISCUSS THE GAZETTED ELECTORAL BILL WAS GIVEN PROMINENT COVERAGE BY THE PAPERS TODAY (1 JUNE). THE LEFT WING PAPERS CONTINUED THEIR ATTACK ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BOUNDARY AND
ELECTION COMMISSION BILL.
2. PRESS REPORTS NOTED THAT THE LEGCO PANEL WOULD COMMENCE DISCUSSIONS ON THE BILL ON 7 JUNE. SOME LEGCO MEMBERS WERE WORRIED THAT THE DISCUSSIONS MIGHT POSE NEW OBSTACLES TO THE CURRENT TALKS. REPORTS ALSO NOTED THAT OF THE 12 MEMBERS OF THE 21-MEMBER PANEL PRESENT AT THE MEETING YESTERDAY, SEVEN WERE UDHK MEMBERS.
GOVERNOR
3. PRESS REPORTS NOTED THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD SAID DURING A DISTRICT VISIT YESTERDAY THAT WHILE SETTING DEADLINES WOULD NOT BE CONDUCIVE TO THE GOOD ATMOSPHERE OF THE TALKS, TIME WAS NOT INFINITE. HE SAID THAT IF WE WENT ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND DID NOT APPEAR TO BE MAKING ANY PROGRESS, THE COMMUNITY WOULD EXPECT HIM TO GOVERN AND TO GOVERN MEANT TAKING DECISIONS EVEN WHEN THEY WERE DIFFICULT.
MR GOODLAD
4. PRESS REPORTS PLAYED UP MR GOODLAD'S REMARKS YESTERDAY THAT THERE WAS NO DEADLINE FOR THE TALKS, BUT THAT OBVIOUSLY THEY COULD NOT CONTINUE INDEFINITELY. MR GOODLAD WAS ALSO QUOTED AS SAYING BRITAIN'S POLICIES TOWARDS HONG KONG HAD NOT CHANGED.
WANG QIREN
5. HKMAO DEPUTY DIRECTOR WANG QIREN SAID YESTERDAY IT WAS REGRETTABLE AND SURPRISING THAT LEGCO HAD PASSED THE BEC BILL AT
1
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