UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1587
OF 080954Z OCTOBER 93
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301/2
RECE
1303
IN...
TA
pa. Press Roudap
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STRY
136443 MDLIAN 2303
*GISTRY
INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG INFO ROUTINE HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK, HKGO SAN FRANCISCO INFO ROUTINE HKGO GENEVA
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HONG KONG FUTURE : PRESS COVERAGE: (2.10.93 8.10.93)
Summary
1
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The press noted extensively the meeting between the Secretary of State and the Chinese Foreign Minister ended without any breakthrough. The Governor's policy address, in particular the section on constitutional development, was prominently reported.
Ministerial Meeting
2. The papers accorded (2.10) prominent coverage to the two-hour meeting between the Secretary of State and Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen in New York, which ended without any breakthrough. Most papers noted that although very little progress was made on the electoral arrangements, both sides agreed on the need to speed up the JLG discussion and progress on the new airport. Mr. Hurd also said the talks would not go on indefinitely but no deadline was set. The Oriental Daily noted the two sides agreed to keep the talks going and that several more rounds should be held this month to work out an agreement.
3.
Qian Qichen was quoted (4.10) as saying if the British side unilaterally submitted the Governor's package to LegCo, the Chinese side would not recognise the 1994/95 elections. If both sides could not reach an agreement, then there could not be a through train arrangement. Qian however indicated both he and the Secretary of State did not consider no through train was the best way to resolve the problem. Qian indicated the talks had made some progress but was slow and not substantial. At the meeting with the Secretary of State, both sides agreed to work harder to speed up the talks and narrow their differences. But Qian considered the possibility of failure to reach agreement still existed. Therefore there was
a need for "two-front" preparations. Papers also noted
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