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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 832
OF 240915Z MAY 93
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
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HKB 301/2 RECEIVED INT
2 M..
*GISTRY
INDE
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
pa. Press Konlyã
100711
MDHIAN 1966
TOP COPY Q DIST?
28
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TALKS ON 1994/95 ELECTIONS: PRESS REPORTS.
SUMMARY.
1.
THE PAPERS YESTERDAY AND TODAY (24 MAY) REPORTED EXTENSIVELY ON THE THIRD ROUND OF TALKS. INTENSE SPECULATION ON PROGRESS OF TALKS AND WHETHER BOTH SIDES HAD MADE CONCESSIONS.
DETAIL: SIR ROBIN MCLAREN.
2.
REPORTS ON 23 MAY HIGHLIGHTED THAT SIR ROBIN MCLAREN HAD FOR THE FIRST TIME DESCRIBED THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE TALKS AS GOOD. REPORTS ON 24 MAY QUOTED HIM AS SAYING THAT THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF WORK TO BE SORTED OUT. THE THROUGH TRAIN ISSUE WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE BRITISH SIDE. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE TALKS HAD NOT TOUCHED ON THE SUBJECT OF MINISTERIAL MEETINGS BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN. NOR HAD THE TALKS DISCUSSED THE RE-OPENING OF JLG AND AIRPORT COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
SOURCES.
3. A GOOD NUMBER OF PRESS REPORTS IN THESE TWO DAYS SPECULATED ON WHAT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED IN RECENT ROUNDS. MING PAO (23 MAY) SAID THAT BOTH SIDES HAD REACHED THE FIRST CONSENSUS, I.E. THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN 1995 WOULD REMAIN AT 20. QUOTING SOURCES, THE REPORT SAID THAT THE BRITISH SIDE HAD IN THE THIRD ROUND RESPONDED TO THE THREE MATTERS OF PRINCIPLE RELATING TO THE 1995 ARRANGEMENTS, WHICH WERE RAISED BY THE CHINESE IN PREVIOUS ROUNDS. THEY WERE:
(I)
(II)
THAT THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS SHOULD NOT EXCEED 20:
THAT THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES SHOULD BE DEFINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DEFINITIONS IN THE 1985 WHITE
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