"A SENIOR BRITISH OFFICIAL" ALLEGES THE 1990 EXCHANGE OF LETTERS WAS NOT CONSIDERED WHEN DRAFTING THE GOVERNOR'S 1992 PROPOSALS
(F.T. 17 DECEMBER)
Two key points here:
First, the 1990 exchanges did not result in any agreement or understanding between Britain and China relating to the 1994/95 elections. This is evident from the texts of the exchanges, which we have published, and from the fact that even in 1992 Chinese officials were canvassing arrangements for the 1995 Election Committee which were different from those discussed in 1990.
Second, as independent lawyers confirmed in testimony to the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Governor's 1992 proposals were not inconsistent with any previous understandings.
As for what documents were considered during the preparation of the Governor's proposals, officials obviously considered all relevant material, including the 1990 exchanges. It would not have been physically possible for the Governor or Ministers to trawl personally through the hundreds of pages of messages and papers which constitute the record of our exchanges with the Chinese since 1984.
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supp.3.12.BB.JRB