UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
UNCLASSIFIED
HKB 301/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
із
13 MAY 1993
DESK OFFICER
TO PRIORITY FCO
INDEX
TELNO 716
OF 100952Z MAY 93
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
p.n. Parlay
Puss 19 Rondap
042533
MDLIAN 1828
TOP COPY Q DIST?
INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO ROUTINE HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK, HKGO SAN FRANCISCO INFO ROUTINE HKGO GENEVA, UKMIS GENEVA
PART ONE OF TWO
HONG KONG FUTURE: PRESS COVERAGE: (29.4
SUMMARY
-
10.5)
1. PROMINENT COVERAGE WAS ACCORDED TO THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO THE US. THERE WAS CONTINUED SPECULATION ON THE
CONTENTS/PROGRESS OF THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS. THE RESUMPTION OF THE LAND COMMISSION MEETING ALSO DREW CONSIDERABLE INTEREST.
一番
SINO-BRITISH TALKS
2. THE PAPERS WIDELY REPORTED (30.4) THE CONCLUSION OF THE SECOND ROUND OF TALKS AND NOTED A JOINT STATEMENT WHICH SAID THE THIRD ROUND WOULD BE HELD FROM MAY 21 TO 23. THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO PEKING SIR ROBIN MCLAREN SAID THE DATES WERE THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE ONES PUT FORWARD BY THE CHINESE SIDE.
3. CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN WU JIANMIN SAID (30.4) THERE WAS NO PLAN YET FOR THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER AND THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY TO MEET BUT CHINA AND BRITAIN WERE KEEPING NORMAL DIPLOMATIC CONTACT. ON THE SECOND ROUND OF TALKS, MR WU DESCRIBED IT AS PROCEEDING AS NORMAL.
4.
!
ORIENTAL DAILY NEWS (30.4) QUOTED SOURCES 'WHO UNDERSTOOD THE CHINESE THINKING IN THE TALKS' AS WARNING THE BRITISH SIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR'S PACKAGE COULD IN NO WAY BE THE STARTING POSITION FOR THE TALKS AND THE CHINESE SIDE WOULD NOT GIVE A GUARANTEE THAT ALL 1995 LEGCO MEMBERS COULD STRADDLE 1997. THE SOURCES SAID THE CHINESE SIDE HAD MADE THREE REQUESTS: (1) THE GOVERNOR'S PACKAGE COULD NOT BE THE BASIS FOR THE TALKS: (2) THE NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR WERE DIRECT ELECTIONS IN DISGUISE AND THEREFORE COULD NOT BE THE STARTING POSITION FOR THE TALKS: (3) THE BRITISH SIDE SHOULD ABIDE BY THE COMMITMENT MADE BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN 1990
1
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