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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1992
WITH DIRECTOR LU, I COVERED CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES AND THE AIRPORT; AND ALSO PROPOSED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRAINING COURSE IN PEKING FOR LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS. THIS MIGHT LAST FOR BIGHT ΤΟ TEN WEEKS. OUR AIM IS TO PUT ALL LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS THROUGH IT BEFORE THE 30TH OF JUNE 1997. AS WELL AS IMPROVING PROFICIENCY IN MANDARIN THE COURSE WOULD PROMOTE A BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF CHINA FOR THOSE WHO GO ON IT. THIS PROPOSAL WAS ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE. THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE WILL VISIT PEKING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO DISCUSS DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS.
ON THE AIRPORT, I MADE CLEAR THAT BY FAR THE BEST OUTCOME WOULD BE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES; BUT I ALSO MADE PLAIN THAT IF AGREEMENT CANNOT BE REACHED BEFORE THE END OF NOVEMBER, WHEN THE AIRPORT PLATFORM TENDER WILL EXPIRE, WE WILL HAVE TO DECIDE HOW BEST TO BUILD AS MUCH OF THE AIRPORT AS WE CAN PENDING, I HOPE, A MEETING OF MINDS. IN RECENT MONTHS, WE HAVE PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS WHICH COVER A SPECTRUM OF POSSIBILITIES. I REMAIN CONVINCED THAT IF WE DISCUSSED THESE ISSUES ON THEIR MERITS, WE COULD REACH AGREEMENT IN HOURS. WE AGREED THAT DETAILED DISCUSSIONS SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE.
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NATURALLY, IT WAS CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES THAT TOOK UP THE BULK OF MY DISCUSSIONS. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT MY PROPOSALS WOULD PROMOTE, NOT UNDERMINE, POLITICAL STABILITY IN HONG KONG. I MADE THAT POINT IN TERMS TO OUR CHINESE COLLEAGUES. MY PROPOSALS COMMAND, I BELIEVE, THE BROAD SUPPORT OF MOST PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.
HAD BEEN TOLD THAT CHINA WOULD NOT AGREE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS FOR THE FIRST SAR LEGISLATURE. SO, WHILE WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS THE CASE FOR MORE DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS WITH VIGOUR, I HAVE PRODUCED PROPOSALS WHICH ARE WHOLLY CONSISTENT WITH THE BASIC LAW. THE CHINESE DISAGREED WITH THIS STRONGLY DURING MY VISIT, BUT I STILL HAVE TO HEAR A CONVINCING ARGUMENT THAT ANYTHING I HAVE PUT FORWARD IS NOT IN CONFORMITY WITH THE BASIC LAW. I EMPHASISED THAT IF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT DID NOT LIKE MY PROPOSALS IT REALLY WAS INCUMBENT ON THEM TO PUT FORWARD ALTERNATIVES. I WOULD CONSIDER THEM SERIOUSLY. I SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NEED TO PUT LEGISLATION TO THIS COUNCIL IN THE NEW YEAR. ULTIMATELY, AS HONOURABLE MEMBERS KNOW, THIS WILL BE A MATTER FOR THIS LEGISLATURE TO CONSIDER. THE ARRANGEMENTS EMBODIED IN ANY LEGISLATION PUT BEFORE THIS COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO BE OPEN AND FAIR AND COMMAND THE CONFIDENCE OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.
I WAS ADVISED BY A NUMBER OF EXPERIENCED NEGOTIATORS THAT THE PRINCIPLE RESPONSE TO MY VISIT WOULD COME ONCE I HAD LEFT PEKING. AND SO IT HAS PROVED. I WANT TO COMMENT BRIEFLY, AND DIPLOMATICALLY, ON WHAT HAS BEEN SAID.
FIRST, THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPORT, AS HONOURABLE MEMBERS WILL KNOW, CONSISTS OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS. SO FAR, IN THE ABSENCE OF OVERALL AGREEMENT WITH CHINA, WE HAVE LET 17 PROJECTS AT A TOTAL COST OF ABOUT $19 BILLION, $3 BILLION BELOW THE ESTIMATED PRICE. IN OTHER WORDS, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AS BEST WE CAN TO CONSTRUCT THE AIRPORT WHICH EVERYONE KNOWS WE WILL GET. THAT IS HOW I AM SURE THAT WE SHOULD BEHAVE.
/I AM