UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1491
OF 200758Z SEPTEMBER 93
#
UNCLASSIFIED
1th Press Roundups
HUB 301/2 TOP COPY
063032 MDLIAN 8126
Q DIST?
2 SEP 1993
INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO ROUTINE HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK, HKGO SAN FRANCISCO INFO ROUTINE HKGO GENEVA
HONG KONG FUTURE: PRESS COVERAGE:
Summary
.
(11.9-20.9)
In the run-up to the 12th round of talks on HK's electoral arrangements in 1994/95, papers continued to speculate on the differences between the two sides and their next steps. The conclusion of the 27th round of JLG meetings with little progress was widely noted.
Talks
2. The Governor was quoted as saying (11.9) he and the British negotiating team leader Sir Robin McLaren, who arrived in HK, would spend time discussing ways to resolve the talks. The Governor said progress was being made, but noted time was running out. The British side had two objectives in mind - to achieve open and fair elections in 1994/95 and the principle of the 'through train'. Sir Robin said no deadline had been set and the British side would make as much progress as possible before the Foreign Secretary met Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen.
3.
Ming Pao quoted a Chinese official as saying (11.9) the Chinese side were looking into contingency measures in the event of no agreement. The report learned options being considered included to appoint a provisional legislative assembly, to give a recess to the Legislative assembly starting 1 July 1997 until new members were returned, HK people to elect members of the SAR legislature post 1997 etc. A person in the know was quoted as saying one of the options the Chinese side were considering was to have the SARPC appoint HK people from various sectors to form a provisional Legislative assembly until the first Legislature was returned in accordance with the BL.
4.
The papers noted prominently (11.9) HKMAO director Lu Ping told a HK delegation of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals in Peking that
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