CONFIDENTIAL
VISIT OF SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE UNITED STATES,
20-22 SEPTEMBER
HONG KONG
CONSTITUTIONAL TALKS
Background
1.
During
The Governor of Hong Kong visited Washington and New York from 2 to 8 May and met the President and several key decision-makers in the Administration and Congress. his call on the President he explained his democratic reforms and the reaction of the Chinese to them. The President expressed strong support, both publicly and privately.
2. Talks with Peking about the 1994/95 election arrangements for Hong Kong began in Peking on 22 April and are continuing. Progress has been slow, but the atmosphere has been businesslike. The Secretary of State's meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister in Peking on 9 July was useful in focussing Chinese attention on the essential issues and the need to make more rapid progress. But there is still much difficult ground to cover and the gap between us is wide. the Ninth round (16-17 August) the Chinese rejected our proposals on functional constituencies and refused to discuss the through train. We cannot yet judge whether this tough line is a negotiating ploy, or a sign that they no longer expect to reach an agreement.
At
sos.us.NAT
CONFIDENTIAL
SLM