20.8.93
21.8.93
21.8.93
16-
A Chinese
official who has taken part in BL drafting quoted by Sing Tao Daily
Although consideration can be given to setting out objective criteria for the through train so as to give some guidelines to candidates in the 1995 Legco elections, it is better to leave it to the NPC Standing Committee to decide.
Choi Yat in Wen Wei Po
Tsui Tong in the HK Commercial Daily
Michael Sze's remark on the through train being the logic of the talks sounds ridiculous. The through train has never been on the agenda of the talks. Besides, the through train demanded by the British side is different from that stipulated in the BL and previous Sino-British accords.
The British side is demanding that all passengers on board the train travel beyond 1997 without bothering to ensure that the rail system before 1997 matches that after 1997.
22.8.93
Yuk Yin in Wen Wei Po
23.8.93
Zhang Junsheng
The criteria for the through train have been stipulated in the BL. There is no need for the British side to raise it at the talks. If the British side is really sincere, it should concentrate on discussing the arrangements for the 1994/95 elections in order to reach an agreement at an early date.
The British emphasis on an unconditional through train poses yet another obstacle to the talks. The basic condition for the through train is that the return of the 1995 Legco must be in line with the BL stipulations and the relevant NPC resolution. The Governor's reform package has undermined the spirit of the through train. Should the talks achieve results and the HK Government organise the 1994/95 elections in accordance with these results as well as the stipulations in the BL and the relevant NPC resolution, then the 1995 legislature might become the first SAR legislature upon confirmation by the SARPC in 1996.
CONFIDENTIAL