UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1286
OF 040903Z AUGUST 93
AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
UNCLASSIFIED
In bunten
130765
MDHIAN 1006
012/2.
STRY
RECEIVED
AUL 1993
DESK C
PECISTRY
OLX
or COPY
Acion Take DIST?
ра
SIGNED COMMENTARY IN 'BAUHINIA'
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MAGAZINE
1. THE PAPERS TODAY (4.8.93) WIDELY REPORTED A SIGNED COMMENTARY IN THE COMING EDITION OF THE 'BAUHINIA' MAGAZINE WHICH SAID THAT THE CHINESE SIDE HAD NOT SET ANY OBSTACLES TO THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS
AND WAS EAGER TO SEE THE PACE OF THE TALKS SPEEDED UP.
2. THE ARTICLE WELCOME S OF S'S COMMENTS ON THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES DURING HIS MEETING WITH THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER. THE ARTICLE POINTED OUT THAT
'SINCERITY' WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN THE RESTORATION OF TRUST AND
COOPERATION AND THE 'THREE CONFORMITIES' WERE THE ONLY CRITERIA FOR
'SINCERITY'.
3. THE ARTICLE SAID THAT THE CHINESE SIDE HAD CONTINUED TO GIVE ITS FULL SUPPORT AND COOPERATION TO ISSUES AFFECTING THE TERRITORY'S ECONOMY, WELFARE AND SECURITY DESPITE THE ROW CAUSED BY THE 'THREE VIOLATIONS, ONE CONFRONTATION' POLICY ADVOCATED BY 'SOMEONE'. THE CHINESE SIDE HOPED THAT THE BRITISH SIDE WOULD DEMONSTRATE WITH CONCRETE ACTIONS ITS SINCERITY NOW THAT THERE WAS A GLIMMER OF HOPE OF SPEEDING UP THE PACE OF THE TALKS SO THAT A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME
COULD BE ACHIEVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SHOULD MUTUTAL TRUST AND COOPERATION BE RE-ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE ABOVE, OTHER ISSUES RELATING TO HONG KONG COULD EASILY BE RESOLVED. FROM A WIDER PERSPECTIVE, THIS WOULD ALSO HAVE A LONG-TERM EFFECT ON IMPROVING THE SINO-BRITISH RELATIONSHIP. SHOULD IT BE OTHERWISE, IT WOULD NOT ONLY HARM THE INTEREST OF HONG KONG BUT WOULD ALSO BE OF NO BENEFIT
TO BRITISH INTERERST.
4. ON THE 'THROUGH TRAIN', THE ARTICLE SAID THAT THE RELEVANT ARRANGEMENTS HAD BEEN CLEARLY STIPULATED IN THE BL AND RESOLUTIONS
OF THE NPC. WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE FURTHER GUIDEINES ON THE
ARRANGEMENTS WAS A MATTER FOR THE SARPC. THE ARTICLE ALSO
CRITICISED PEOPLE WHO SAID THAT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES
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