UNCLASSIFIED
Marsa
37
033402
MDHIAN 9878
TOP COPY Q DIST?
UNCLASSIFIED
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 625
OF 060923Z MAY 93
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
International t
OUR TELNO 614 AND HONG KONG TELNO 688: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PRESS REPORTS AND MFA
1.
NEITHER THE CHINA DAILY NOR THE PEOPLE'S DAILY HAVE SO FAR CARRIED REPORTS OF THE COMMENTS BY THE SPOKESMEN OF THE NCNA CHK BRANCH) AND THE MFA REPORTED IN HONG KONG TUR. AT THE WEEKLY MFA PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (6 MAY) THE SPOKESMAN MADE NO SPECIFIC COMMENT ON WHAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT HAVE RAISED IN WASHINGTON. ASKED TO COMMENT ON WHETHER THE SUPPORT EXPRESSED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON FOR THE GOVERNOR'S REFORM PROPOSALS WOULD AFFECT THE NEXT ROUND OF TALKS ON HONG KONG, HE SAID THAT THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG WAS A MATTER FOR CHINA AND BRITAIN BEFORE 1997 AND CHINA'S INTERNAL AFFAIR AFTER 1997: ANY ATTEMPT TO INTERNATIONALISE THE QUESTION WOULD FAIL. ON THE POSSIBILITY OF CONDITIONAL RENEWAL OF MFN STATUS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE GRANTING OF MFN STATUS WAS IN THE INTERESTS OF BOTH SIDES AND THAT CHINA WOULD NOT ACCEPT ANY MOVES TO ATTACH CONDITIONS TO RENEWAL.
2. THE SPOKESMAN WAS ASKED WHETHER A DATE HAD BEEN SET FOR THE NEXT JLG MEETING. HE REPLIED THAT THIS WOULD BE DISCUSSED BY THE TWO SIDES. ON THE LEVEL OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES HE SAID THAT HE HOPED THE TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES ON THE BASIS OF THE THREE COMPLIANCES WOULD LEAD TO THE RESTORATION OF COOPERATION OVER HONG KONG.
MCLAREN
YYYY
HICO 021/3
RESE
10 MAY 1993
TRY
1
PAGE
UNCLASSIFIED