SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1988
CHINA'S UNDERSTANDING OF HK SITUATION IS IMPORTANT: BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO PEKING
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WAS CHINESE OF THE
AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN PEKING KEEP ABREAST OF HONG KONG AFFAIRS, AND TO IMPRESS UPON THE LEADERSHIP THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING SITUATION IN HONG KONG, THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO PEKING (DESIGNATE), MR ALAN DONALD, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT BEFORE LEAVING FOR PEKING, MR DONALD SAID DURING HIS VISIT TO HONG KONG HE HAD LISTENED VERY CAREFULLY TO A WIDE VARIETY OF VIEWS AND OPINIONS FROM A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
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I WILL TAKE THE KNOWLEDGE WHICH I HAVE ACQUIRED THIS LAST WEEK WITH ME TO PEKING, AND I HOPE THAT IT WOULD INFORM ALL MY CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE LEADERS, HE SAID.
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WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS DISCUSSIONS ON THE DRAFT BASIC LAW, MR DONALD SAID HE HAD DISCUSSED IT WITH MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND OMELCO MEMBERS, BUT THEIR VIEWS WERE VERY PRELIMINARY.
"THE BASIC LAW IS THE CONCERN OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS IN PEKING, AND AT PRESENT THERE IS A CONSULTATION PROCESS HONG KONG ON THE DRAFT," HE SAID.
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"THE ROLE OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS TO STUDY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BASIC LAW, AS IT ULTIMATELY EMERGES AFTER CONSULTATION, AND THE JOINT DECLARATION OF 1984.
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"NOW, IF AT THAT POINT, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE VIEWS THEN IT WOULD BE PROPER FOR ME TO CONVEY THEM TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, HE ADDED.
MR DONALD POINTED OUT THAT WHILE THERE WOULD BE CHANGES TO THE DRAFT BASIC LAW IN THE LIGHT OF OPINIONS, IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WERE BEING CONSULTED ON THE DOCUMENT.
HE SAID THE DRAFT WAS OF GREAT INTEREST TO THE GOVERNMENT WHICH WOULD ALSO BE STUDYING THE DOCUMENT.
BRITISH
BRAIN
SAID:
WHEN ASKED WHETHER HE WOULD DISCUSS THE PROBLEM OF
中申 THE DRAIN" IN HONG KONG WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES, MR
DONALD "I KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND I'VE HAD MANY PEOPLE EXPLAIN THE SITUATION TO ME.
"I'LL TRY AND MAKE SURE IT IS FULLY UNDERSTOOD IN
PEKING, HE
"
SAID.
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