Date
CONFIDENTIAL
23.
-
Chinese Comments on Through Train/Convergence
Official/Sources
Comments
Appendix V
/Commentators
2.9.93
Xiao Weiyun, co- convenor of the PWC political sub-group, quoted by
sources
4.9.93
A Chinese official quoted by Ming Pao
The through train arrangement in the BL, under which support for the mini- constitution was a major criterion, was originally made in 1988 for the sake of convergence. When the BL was promulgated in 1990, no one, including the HK Government, had said that it lacked objective criteria. Such accusations have come up all of a sudden.
It
Even if the Chinese side agrees to set the criteria for the through train, it could not pre-judge every kind of behaviour. cannot be predicted whether the burning of the BL will be used as an objective criterion in deciding which legislators can board the through train.
4.9.93
A bylined CNA commentary
8.9.93
Lu Ping
The BL and the relevant NPC resolutions have already spelled out concrete requirements for boarding the through train. Any passenger together with the train has to meet certain criteria and be confirmed by the SARPC before crossing over 1997. The crux of the issue is how to converge with the BL. It is meaningless to talk about "an unconditional through train" without regard to the BL stipulations.
It is meaningless to talk about who can board the through train before the problem of the carriage (political structure) has been sorted out. The issue at stake is how to ensure convergence of the political structure with the BL.
CONFIDENTIAL