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нигу
azlo
074457
MDHIAN 8856
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FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 23110OZ FCO
TELNO 2747
OF 231004Z NOVEMBER 92
TOP COPY
NEST?
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
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OUR TELNO 2743 AND YRTELNO 1645: SINO-BRITISH EXCHANGES ON CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES: LEGCO QUESTION
1. THE GOVERNOR AGREES WITH THE DRAFT ANSWER IN PARA 2 OF YOUR TUR, BUT WOULD PREFER IT TO BE EXPANDED TO INCORPORATE ONE OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY POINTS, VIZ. HMG'S POSITION DURING THE DISCUSSIONS WITH ZHU RONGJI. HE IS CONCERNED THAT TOO BLAND AN INITIAL REPLY
WILL SIMPLY IRRITATE MEMBERS.
2. OUR REVISED DRAFT REPLY IS AS FOLLOWS:
QUOTE: THE CONTENT OF DIPLOMATIC EXCHANGES BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS ARE BY CONVENTION CONFIDENTIAL. MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ARE BRIEFED ON DISCUSSION OF HONG KONG ISSUES BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S POSITION, AS SET OUT IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE VICE-PREMIER IN LONDON, REMAINS AS FOLLOWS:
(A) HMG STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE GOVERNOR AND HIS CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS, WHICH ARE FULLY CONSISTENT WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW:
(B) THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN HMG'S POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG:
(C) IT REMAINS HKG'S WISH TO WORK IN CO-OPERATION WITH CHINA FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION ON THE BASIS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION: AND
(D) WE ARE PREPARED TO CONSIDER ANY PROPOSALS THE CHINESE SIDE
MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE.
THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT HE INTENDS TO MAKE HIMSELF AVAILABLE REGULARLY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND TO DISCUSS GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROPOSALS. HE WILL NEXT DO THIS ON 1 DECEMBER. UNQUOTE.
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