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INFO IMMEDIATE SUVA, HONG KONG, PEKING
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
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023350 MDHOAN 6662
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Counter mealms
FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S PARTY
SUVA FOR MINISTER OF STATE'S PARTY
HONG KONG: COMMENTS BY LU PING ABOUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S SIX-MONTHLY MEETING WITH THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER
1.
THE BRITISH MEDIA HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON 4 JANUARY THAT LU PING (DIRECTOR OF THE STATE COUNCIL HONG KONG AND MACAO AFFAIRS OFFICE THE SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIAL DEALING WITH HONG KONG), IN COMMENTS TO A HONG KONG TV STATION BROADCAST ON 3 JANUARY, APPEARED TO CAST DOUBT ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S NEXT SIX-MONTHLY MEETING WITH CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN. IT IS THEREFORE POSSIBLE THAT THIS POINT MIGHT BE RAISED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE BY THE PRESS.
2.
NEWS DEPARTMENT HAVE NOT HAD MANY ENQUIRIES DURING THE DAY. THEY HAVE BEEN TAKING THE FOLLOWING INTERIM LINE:
WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN A FULL TRANSCRIPT OF LU PING'S REMARKS. NO COMMENT ON HIS SPECIFIC POINTS:
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THE POSITION ON MEETINGS BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTERS REMAINS AS SET OUT IN THE COMMUNIQUE AGREED AT THE MEETING BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE CHINESE PREMIER, LI PENG, IN PEKING ON 3 SEPTEMBER 1991:
'THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY AND THE CHINESE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS WILL MEET TWICE A YEAR TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF MUTUAL CONCERN."
THE LAST SUCH MEETING WAS IN SEPTEMBER 1992.
- (IF PRESSED) WE HAVE NOT YET BEGUN TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE NEXT IN THIS SERIES OF MEETINGS.
(UNATTRIBUTABLE) ANY MEETING WOULD BE LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE IN
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