UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 813
OF 20095OZ MAY 1993
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
UNCLASSIFIED
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PRESS REPORTS
1.4. Prese
073183
MDHIAN 1652
26
HKB 301/2
RECEDED I
25 MAY 1993
ISTRY
DESK OFFICER INDEX
RESISTA
PA
Action Taxc
THIRD ROUND OF TALKS
1. REMARKS MADE BY SIR ROBIN MCLAREN ON ARRIVAL AT HONG KONG YESTERDAY WERE WIDELY NOTED TODAY (20 MAY). THE REPORTS HIGHLIGHTED HIS REMARKS THAT THE BRITISH SIDE WOULD BE PATIENT, POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE TOWARDS THE TALKS SO THAT PROGRESS
COULD BE MADE.
2. HK ECONOMIC TIMES QUOTE CHINESE SOURCES AS SAYING THAT THE CHINESE SIDE HOPED TO DISCUSS ONE BY ONE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS IN THE THIRD ROUND AND SEEK TO REACH ACCEPTABLE AGREEMENT ON EACH OF THEM. THE CHINESE SIDE THEREFORE EXPECTED THAT THE TALKS COULD NOT BE COMPLETED IN FOUR ROUNDS : THERE MIGHT AT LEAST BE ONE OR TWO MORE ROUNDS.
3. WAH KIU YAT PO NOTED THAT WHILE OFFICIALS OF THE BRITISH SIDE DID NOT WANT TO MAKE ANY SPECULATION ON THE EVE OF THE TALKS, THE CHINESE SIDE HAD REITERATED THAT THEY WERE SINCERE ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS. THE QUESTION NOW WAS WHETHER THE BRITISH WERE
WILLING TO CONDUCT THE TALKS ON THE BASIS OF THE THREE COMPLIANCES. AS LONG AS AN AGREEMENT COULD BE REACHED ON THE THREE PRINCIPLES, DISCUSSIONS COULD START RIGHT AWAY ON THE SPECIFICS OF THE 1995 ELECTIONS. ON THE THROUGH TRAIN, THE CHINESE SIDE SAID THIS WAS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS. THE BRITISH WERE SIMPLY CREATING AN OBSTACLE TO THE TALKS.
4. A FEW PAPERS QUOTED BRITISH SOURCES AS SAYING THAT THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS OF TALKS HAD ONLY TOUCHED ON MATTERS OF PRINCIPLE. THE BRITISH SIDE HOPED THAT SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES WOULD BE DISCUSSED IN THE THIRD ROUND OR ELSE THE GOVERNOR WOULD FIND IT DIFFICULT TO REPORT TO LEGCO THE TIMETABLE FOR TABLING THE BILL.
5. WEN WEI PO'S EDITORIAL TODAY REFERRED TO EARLIER PRESS REPORTS
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UNCLASSIFIED