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MDHIAN 8675
3. IN RESPONSE TO ANY SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS, WE PLAN TO ADOPT THE FOLLOWING LINES:
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WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY MADE CLEAR THAT WE ARE PREPARED
TO HOLD DISCUSSIONS, WITHOUT PRE-CONDITIONS, WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS.
IF AND WHEN THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, WE WILL MAKE THIS FACT KNOWN TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. THE DETAILS OF THE DIPLOMATIC EXCHANGES WOULD BE CONFIDENTIAL BUT THE OUTCOME WOULD OF COURSE BE REPORTED TO THIS COUNCIL.
IN ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1994/95, WE WILL HAVE FULL REGARD TO THE NEED FOR THE ARRANGEMENTS TO BE OPEN, FAIR AND ACCEPTABLE TO THIS COUNCIL AND TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. CONSTITUTIONALLY IT WILL BE FOR THIS COUNCIL TO DECIDE ON THE FINAL FORM OF THE DRAFT LEGISLATION GIVING EFFECT TO SUCH ARRANGEMENTS.
THERE WILL BE NO SECRET DEALS. NOR (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) COULD THERE BE ANY: ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS WILL HAVE TO BE PROVIDED BY LAW WHICH REQUIRES ENACTMENT OF THIS COUNCIL.
HMG WILL NOT MAKE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG GO FURTHER OR LESS FAR THAN THEY THEMSELVES WISH. WE WILL ACCEPT THE EVENTUAL DECISIONS MADE BY LEGCO PROVIDED THEY MEET THE UK'S INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS.
ACCORDING TO THE AIRPORT MOU, THE TWO FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE TO MEET TWICE A YEAR. THE LAST MEETING WAS IN SEPTEMBER 1992. ARRANGEMENTS HAVE YET TO BE MADE FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
IF ASKED ON WHETHER HKG WOULD POSTPONE THE INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION INTO LEGCO IF CHINA PROPOSED DISCUSSIONS BEFORE THEN:
WE HAVE SAID THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO HOLD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT PRE-CONDITIONS.
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