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ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE THROUGH TRAIN, THE BRITISH SIDE WERE READY TO DISCUSS FURTHER AND MAKE AMENDMENTS TO THEIR COUNTER-PROPOSALS. ON THE NINE NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, THE SOURCES SAID IF THE CHINESE SIDE ACCEPTED THE ONE MAN, ONE VOTE' ELECTION METHOD WITHIN THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, THEN THE TWO SIDES COULD CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THE TECHNICAL MATTERS CONCERNING THE COMPOSITION OF THESE CONSTITUENCIES.
5. THE PAPER REPORTED (1.9) THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HK JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AFTER A MEETING WITH HKMAO VICE DIRECTOR CHEN ZIYANG QUOTED CHEN AS SAYING ALTHOUGH THE TALKS HAD YIELDED SOME RESULTS, PROGRESS WAS NOT SATISFACTORY AND HE HOPE THE BRITISH SIDE WOULD RETURN TO THE BASIS OF THE THREE CONFORMITIES IN ORDER THAT THE PROBLEMS COULD BE SPEEDILY RESOLVED. CHEN WAS ALSO QUOTED AS SAYING IT WOULD BE BEST NOT TO HAVE ANY BIG CHANGES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM. IF THERE WERE TO BE CHANGES, THE BRITISH SIDE SHOULD DISCUSS THEM WITH THE CHINESE SIDE FIRST.
6. SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT A PUBLIC FUNCTION (1.9) NCNA HK BRANCH VICE DIRECTOR ZHENG GUOXIONG SAID USING A DEADLINE TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE CHINESE SIDE WOULD NOT BE CONDUCIVE TO THE NEGOTIATIONS. HE SAID THE QUESTION OF THE CHINESE SIDE NOT RESPONDING TO CERTAIN PROPOSALS AND THEREFORE AFFECTING THE PROGRESS OF THE TALKS DID NOT EXIST. HE ADDED AN AGREEMENT SHOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT TO REACH IF THE TALKS WERE CONDUCTED ON THE BASIS OF THE THREE CONFORMITIES'.
7. SING TAO DAILY (2.9) QUOTED A PERSON IN THE KNOW AS SAYING THE TWO SIDES WERE STILL FAR APART OVER THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS AND THE BRITISH SIDE WOULD CONTINUE TO PUT FORWARD COUNTER-PROPOSALS IN THE 10TH.ROUND. THE CHINESE SIDE WANTED A FURTHER CUT IN THE SIZE OF THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTORATE PROPOSED BY THE BRITISH SIDE AND THE TWO SIDES STILL COULD NOT FIND COMMON GROUND ON THE THROUGH TRAIN ISSUE. REPORTING FROM LONDON, ORIENTAL DAILY SAID THE TWO MAJOR ISSUES OF CONTENTION WERE THE NINE NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND OBJECTIVE CRITERIA FOR THE THROUGH TRAIN.
8. SOME PAPER QUOTED HK VICE DIRECTOR ZHENG GUOXIONG (2.9) AS REITERATING THE CHINESE SIDE'S SINCERITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
THREE CONFORMITIES'. DIRECTOR OF THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY'S HKMAO ZHAO JIHUA, DESCRIBED THE PROGRESS OF THE TALKS AS NORMAL. HE SAID THE ISSUE WAS COMPLICATED AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SAY WHETHER
A BREAKTHROUGH COULD BE MADE BY THE TIME OF THE MINISTERIAL
MEETING.
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