Mr Bunten
ри
(102).
123211
MDLIAN 3736
UNCLASSIFIED
HICC 012/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 APR 1993
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY TOP COPY
PA Action Takes
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 506
OF 300945Z MARCH 93
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
Q DIST?
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT : CHINESE REACTION : PRESS REPORTS
LI LANQING 1.
QUOTING SOURCES BOTH SING TAO DAILY AND WAH KIU YAT PO SAID TODAY THAT NEWLY ELECTED CHINESE VICE PREMIER, LI LANQING, MIGHT BE ASKED TO TAKE CHARGE OF SETTING UP THE SEPARATE STOVE AND PREPARATORY WORK FOR THE TAKEOVER IN 1997. THE REPORTS NOTED THAT THE SELECTION OF AN EXPERIENCED TRADE AND ECONOMIC OFFICIAL UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE THE CHINESE ATTACHED TO MAINTAINING HONG KONG'S STATUS AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE AND TO ENSURING HONG KONG'S CONTINUED STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.
2.
WAH KIU ALSO NOTED LI WAS FAMILIAR WITH HONG KONG AND HAD GOOD CONNECTIONS WITH PEOPLE HERE. THE REPORT SAID LI'S HONG KONG PORTFOLIO WOULD STILL HAVE TO BE DECIDED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
SINO-BRITISH CONTACTS
3.
ANOTHER REPORT IN TODAY'S SING TAO DAILY SAID THAT THE BRITISH SIDE WERE RECENTLY TRYING TO RESUME CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS. SOURCES IN DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES IN PEKING SAID THAT THE BRITISH WANTED TO RESUME NORMAL DIPLOMATIC TIES SO THAT SINO-BRITISH CO-OPERATION, ESPECIALLY ON THE ECONOMIC FRONT, WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE POLITICAL ROW. THEY ALSO HOPED TO CREATE CONDITIONS FOR THE RE-OPENING OF TALKS IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT MONTH.
4. THE REPORT QUOTED AN AUTHORITATIVE CHINESE SOURCE AS SAYING THE DOOR OF RE-OPENING TALKS HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETELY CLOSED : THIS COULD STILL BE DISCUSSED IF THE BRITISH WITHDRAW THE GAZETTED BILL AND RETURNED TO THE PATH OF THE THREE COMPLIANCES.
BAUHINIA MAGAZINE
5. TWO COMMENTARIES IN THE APRIL ISSUE OF BAUHINIA MAGAZINE CONTINUED TO ATTACK OUR POSITION IN RE-OPENING TALKS. ONE OF THE COMMENTARIES LISTED THE FOLLOWING FOUR REASONS WHY HKG OFFICIALS
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PAGE UNCLASSIFIED