UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TELNO 1330
UNCLASSIFIED
HKB 201/2
PED INERGISTRY
RECE
1. AG 1993
REGISTRY
PA
Taken
TO PRIORITY FCO
OF 132145Z AUGUST 93
pa. Press Roundups
155063
MDLIAN 1215
TOP COPY
Q DIST?
INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG INFO ROUTINE HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK INFO ROUTINE HKGO SAN FRANCISCO, HKGO GENEVA
76
PART ONE OF TWO
HONG KONG FUTURE: PRESS COVERAGE: (7.8-13.8)
SUMMARY
REACTION FROM LEGISLATORS, CIVIL SERVICE GROUPS AND REMARKS BY CHINESE LEADERS ON THE TEMPORARY MEASURE TO ALLOW EXPATRIATE CIVIL SERVANTS TO RENEW THEIR CONTRACTS UNDER LOCAL TERMS WERE PROMINENTLY COVERED. SPECULATION ON THE CONTENT OF THE NINTH ROUND OF TALKS CONTINUED.
LOCALISATION
2. LU PING WAS QUOTED AS SAYING (7.8) THE MOVE BY THE HKG TO ALLOW EXPATRIATE OFFICALS TO APPLY TO RENEW THEIR CONTRACTS UNDER LOCAL TERMS INVOLVED MAJOR CHANGES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM AND THE CHINESE SIDE SHOULD BE CONSULTED IN THE JLG.
3. TA KUNG PAO (10.8) CARRIED A PEKING REPORT IN WHICH HKMAO VICE- DIRECTOR CHEN ZIYING WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THE NEW POLICY INVOLVED MAJOR CHANGES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE. THE EFFECTS WOULD STRADDLE 1997 AND WOULD BE LONG LASTING. CHEN SAID THE BRITISH HKG HAD NOT CONSULTED THE CHINESE SIDE BEFOREHAND. ON WHETHER THIS MOVE WOULD AFFECT THE NINTH ROUND OF TALKS, CHEN WAS QUOTED AS SAYING CHINA SINCERELY WANTED THE TALKS TO SUCCEED. THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THIS AIM WERE CERTAIN REMARKS AND STAND WHICH WERE OBSTACLES TO THE RESUMPTION OF COOPERATION. A CHINA NEW AGENCY DISPATCH QUOTED CPPCC DELEGATES XU SIMIN AND PEGGY LAM AS SAYING IF THE GOVERNMENT INSISTED ON GOING AHEAD WITH THE POLICY, IT WOULD LEADER TO POLARISATION IN THE CIVIL SERVICE AND SERIOUSLY AFFECT MORALE AND EFFICIENCY WHICH WOULD IN TURN AFFECT THE SMOOTH TRANSITION OF HK.
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