UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 929
OF 071039Z JUNE 93
UNCLASSIFIED
HICC 01/2
RECEIVED IN RECISTRY
7 JUN 1993
153
134752
MDHIAN 3703
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taker!
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
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012/2
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PRESS REPORTS
BEC BILL AND LEGCO PANEL
1. MANY PAPERS TODAY REPORTED ON A CHINA NEWS AGENCY COMMENTARY WHICH SAID IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE BRITISH SIDE'S PETTY TRICKS THAT
SOME LEGISLATORS WERE SUPPORTED BY THE HKG TO SYSTEMATICALLY
INTRODUCE INTO LEGCO IN A PIECEMEAL MANNER THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS, AT A TIME WHEN SINO-BRITISH TALKS WERE STILL GOING ON AND HONG KONG PEOPLE WERE NOT ALERT. THE INTENTION WAS TO CREATE
A FAIT ACCOMPLI TO PUT PRESSURE ON CHINA.
2.
THE ARTICLE ALSO REFERRED TO THE GOVERNOR'S LEGCO ADDRESS
SAYING THAT THE BEC WAS AN ORGAN DIRECTLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF
THE GOVERNOR TO IMPLEMENT HIS CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE. IT WAS UNNECESSARY AND INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE LEGCO PANEL TO DISCUSS THE
BEC BILL AT THIS SENSITIVE TIME WHEN THE CONSTITUTIONAL TALKS
WERE ON-GOING. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE CHINESE MFA HAD EXPRESSED STRONG DISSATISFACTION TO THE BRITISH SIDE, AND URGED THAT ALL INAPPROPRIATE TALKS AND ACTS SHOULD BE STOPPED TO AVOID GENERATING FURTHER OBSTACLES TO THE TALKS.
3.
IN A RELATED DEVELOPMENT DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF NCNA ZHANG
JUNSHENG WAS QUOTED YESTERDAY AS SAYING THAT PENDING AN AGREEMENT IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL TALKS, ANY UNILATERAL DECISION TAKEN BY THE HKG WOULD BE IN INVALID. WHILST THE BRITISH SIDE HAD PLAYED
THREE PETTY TRICKS, THE CHINESE SIDE HAD DEMONSTRATED SINCERITY BY DOING THREE GOOD THINGS, I.E. RESUMPTION OF AIRPORT COMMITTEE AND LAND COMMISSION MEETINGS AND AGREEING TO THREE FRANCHISES.
IF THE LEGCO PANEL'S DISCUSSION HAD NO BINDING EFFECT AS CLAIMED BY THE HKG, SUCH DISCUSSIONS WERE IN FACT REDUNDANT. THE BRITISH SIDE SHOULD RESTRAIN THE ACTIONS OF HKG AND LEGCO.
THE LEFT WING PRESS DEVOTED EXTENSIVE COVERAGE TODAY TO
CRITICISE THE BRITISH SIDE'S PETTY TRICKS WHICH WERE SAID TO HAVE
DESTROYED THE BASIS OF CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ON THE
4.
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