UNCLASSIFIED
८
p.4. Bengo
R
024531 MDLIAN 7675
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TELNO 1703
TO PRIORITY FCO
OF 030906Z NOVEMBER 93
икв 30112.
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
PART ONE OF TWO
HONG KONG FUTURE : PRESS COVERAGE : (23.10-3.11)
Summary
1.
The 15th round of talks was featured. Most reports noted a
Also significant gap between the two sides still existed. prominently covered were comments by various Chinese senior leaders on the talks.
Sino-British Talks
2. Tin Tin Daily News (25.10) quoted reliable Chinese sources saying China had its own time-table for the talks, the deadline for discussing the 1994 DB electoral arrangements was end December and that the 1995 LegCo election was April next year.
3.
The papers quoted (25.10) former NCNA HK Branch Director Xu Jiatun as saying there was a possibility the talks would break down. This would greatly affect HK. Xu considered the British side should not let the talks break down.
4.
The papers accorded prominent coverage to the 15th round of talks (28.10). Sir Robin McLaren was quoted as saying the British
They were side had made great efforts and would continue to do so. Looking for corresponding flexibility on the Chinese side. Speaking after the meeting Sir Robin said the meeting was polite Sir Robin and businesslike but a substantial gap still existed. said the British side were seeking progress in the crucial areas of the Election Committee, the functional constituency elections and the through train.
5. Jiang Enzhu said (28.10) the Chinese side had already exercised and would continue to exercise flexibility on the basis of the three principles. HKMAO Vice Director Wang Qiren said
1
PAGE UNCLASSIFIED