UNCLASSIFIED
Mustard/h
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2696
OF 130949Z NOVEMBER 92
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, OTTAWA
par Chin's ample
140
045626 MDHIAN 7552
OTTAWA PLEASE ONPASS TO THE GOVERNOR VISITING
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: DIRECTIVE FROM DENG XIAOPING AND ZHU RONGJI'S VISIT TO LONDON: MING PAO REPORT
1. MING PAO TODAY (13 NOVEMBER) CARRIED AN EXCLUSIVE ARTICLE QUOTING A PEKING SOURCE CLOSE TO THE CHINESE SIDE AS SAYING DENG XIAOPING HAD DIRECTED THAT NO/NO CONCESSION SHOULD BE MADE TO THE BRITISH SIDE IN THE CURRENT DISPUTE ON HK'S CONSTITUTIONAL
DEVELOPMENT.
2.
THE SOURCE SAID THAT DENG WAS WELL AWARE OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CURRENT DISPUTE. HE HAD ALSO BEEN ON CONSTANT GUARD AGAINST WHAT THE BRITISH SIDE HAD BEEN DOING. HE FELT THAT THE CHINESE SIDE HAD CONCEDED ON HONG KONG ISSUES ON MANY OCCASIONS BEFORE. NO FURTHER CONCESSION SHOULD BE MADE AND THE BOTTOMLINE WAS TO GO FOR A BATTLE OF STRENGTH WITH THE BRITISH SIDE.
3. THE SOURCE ALSO SAID THAT DENG REGARDED THE OPENING UP AND REFORM OF CHINA AND THE RESOLUTION OF THE HONG KONG QUESTION BY 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS' AS HIS TWO MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE FINAL STAGE OF HIS POLITICAL CAREER. THE 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS' APPROACH HAD ALL ALONG BEEN CHALLENGED BY BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT WING FORCES IN CHINA. AND DENG WAS PARTICULARLY WARY OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE MAINLAND LEFT-WING FORCES LOOKING FOR EXCUSES AFTER HIS DEATH TO RUIN HIS REPUTATION. HE WOULD NOT THEREFORE BACK DOWN IN THE FACE OF ANY CHALLENGE. DENG WAS DETERMINED THAT WHATEVER HAPPENED, HONG KONG ISSUES SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS'. THE SOURCE DISCLOSED THAT THE CHINESE SIDE WOULD MAINTAIN ITS HARD-LINE, NON- COMPROMISING STANCE FOR THE TIME BEING AND SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD DO AFTER HIS VISIT TO LONDON.
ON ZHU RONGJI'S IMMINENT VISIT TO LONDON, THE SOURCE SAID THAT HE WOULD DEAL ONLY WITH ECONOMIC ISSUES. ZHU WOULD NOT BE TASKED WITH NEGOTIATING WITH LONDON ON HONG KONG'S CONSTITUTIONAL
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