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121007
MDLIAN 6354
BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR IN THE MFA STATEMENT. PRESS REPORTS NOTED MR JIANG DID NOT COMMENT DIRECTLY ON WHETHER THE RESUMPTION OF THE MEETING OF THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE INDICATED THE CURRENT TALKS HAD MADE PROGRESS. HE JUST SAID IT DEMONSTRATED THE CHINESE SIDE'S EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN HK'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY.
11.
THE HK ECONOMIC TIMES QUOTED (29.5) A CHINESE SOURCE AS SAYING THE PASSAGE OF THE BEC BILL HAD AFFECTED THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE TALKS AND THE RE-BUILDING OF MUTUAL TRUST. A CHINESE OFFICIAL TOLD SING TAO DAILY THE PASSAGE OF THE BEC BILL BEFORE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED ON THE ELECTORAL ISSUES WAS INAPPROPRIATE, AND WAS SIMILAR TO THE TENDER INVITATION FOR THE TSING MA BRIDGE AND THE GAZETTING OF THE ELECTORAL BILL IN MARCH. THE OFFICIAL SAID CHINA HAD SHOWN ENOUGH SINCERITY BY AGREEING TO THE LAND DISPOSAL PROGRAMME, THE THREE FRANCHISES AND THE RESUMPTION OF THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE MEETING. BUT THE BRITISH SIDE HAD AGAIN PLAYED PETTY TRICKS. THE OFFICIAL HOWEVER DECLINED TO REPLY DIRECTLY ON WHAT EFFECT THE BILL PASSAGE WOULD HAVE ON THE CURRENT TALKS.
12. ANOTHER REPORT IN SING TAO DAILY (29.5) SAID IT WAS UNDERSTOOD DURING THE TALKS ON THE FIRST DAY (28.5) THE CHINESE SIDE HAD MADE A PROTEST TO THE BRITISH SIDE ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BEC BILL. THE CHINESE SIDE SAID THEY HOPED SIMILAR INCIDENTS WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN AND THE BRITISH SIDE SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY UNILATERAL DECISIONS BEFORE THE TALKS HAD COME TO AN AGREEMENT. A SIMILAR REPORT APPEARED IN THE HK STANDARD.
13.
QUOTING A SOURCE IN PEKING (29.5) HK STANDARD SAID A SELECTED GROUP OF HK AFFAIRS ADVISERS WOULD JOIN OFFICIALS FROM HKMAO AND NCNA IN 'URGENT TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS' IN GUANGZHOU. THEY WOULD MEET FOR ABOUT A WEEK FROM TODAY TO SORT OUT COMPLICATED ISSUES EMERGING FROM THE TALKS.
14.
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THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY CHINA AND BRITAIN TO HOLD THE FIFTH ROUND OF TALKS BETWEEN 14 16 JUNE IN PEKING WAS ACCORDED EXTENSIVE COVERAGE (31.5). MANY PAPERS QUOTED SIR ROBIN MCLAREN AS SAYING THE DELAY IN ANNOUNCING THE DATE WAS DUE TO A 'TECHNICAL PROBLEM' ON THE CHINESE SIDE. HE DID NOT THINK THE CHINESE SIDE WAS DELIBERATELY MAKING THINGS DIFFICULT. HE HOPED PEOPLE WOULD NOT SPECULATE ON THE DELAY. REPORTS (30.5) QUOTED SIR ROBIN AS SAYING THE FOURTH ROUND OF TALKS WERE CONDUCTED IN THE NORMAL WAY. HE SAID THE TWO SIDES HAD TOUCHED ON SOME CONCRETE ISSUES BUT DECLINED TO ELABORATE.
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