CONFIDENTIAL
· 15
Appendix IV
Chinese Comments on Constitutional Package and Britain's "unreasonable demands"
Date
Official/Sources
Comments
/Commentators
2.9.93
NCNA HK Vice- Director Zheng Guoxiong at a National Day preparatory
2.9.93
3.9.93
committee
luncheon
Sources close to
the Chinese side quoted by the Oriental Daily News
An article in
the Bauhinia magazine
HK people have come to see the true face of the British colonists and have voluntarily opposed the Patten package. Professional, business, labour and resident groups have stated that they want stability, prosperity, cooperation and convergence with the BL. The Chinese side is sincere about the talks but it requires efforts from both sides. An agreement can be reached if both sides adhere to the "three
conformities".
The Chinese side most probably will not accept the concept of an extended electorate for the functional
constituencies as it is different from that for the existing 21 functional constituency seats. The Chinese side has also declined to discuss the pace of democratisation in HK beyond 1997 and the return of the 1999 legislature.
According to media reports, the British side has raised at the talks demands like a role in the SARPC, a legislature wholly returned by direct elections by 2007 and an unconditional through train. As China will not budge on matters concerning sovereignty, such demands will never be
met.
4.9.93
A bylined CNA Commentary
Chris Patten has said that "no agreement is better than a bad agreement". People are worried that the talks may be deadlocked if the British side prefers no agreement to anything not in line with their wishes. It is high time for the British side to return to the "three conformities". With sincerity. and a positive attitude, the two sides should be able to cooperate and reach an agreement earlier.
CONFIDENTIAL