XN000022-1992-11-25 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1992

CONTENTS OF DIPLOMATIC EXCHANGES ARE CONFIDENTIAL

* *

THE CONTENTS OF DIPLOMATIC EXCHANGES BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS ARE BY CONVENTION CONFIDENTIAL.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SZE, WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON EMILY LAU IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MS LAU ASKED WHETHER THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD REQUEST THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO GIVE A FULL AND FRANK DISCLOSURE OF THE RELEVANT EXCHANGES BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS SINCE THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS ON OCTOBER 7 SO THAT THE HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD NO LONGER BE KEPT IN THE DARK ON NEGOTIATIONS WHICH AFFECT THEIR FUTURE.

MR SZE SAID MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WERE DISCUSSIONS OF HONG KONG ISSUES BETWEEN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENTS.

AS

HE SAID THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S POSITION, DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE VICE-PREMIER IN LONDON, FOLLOWS:

BRIEFED ON AND CHINESE

SET OUT IN REMAINED AS

* HMG STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE GOVERNOR AND HIS CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS, WHICH ARE FULLY CONSISTENT WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW;

THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN HMG'S POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG;

*

A

IT REMAINS HMG'S WISH TO WORK IN CO-OPERATION WITH CHINA FOR SMOOTH TRANSITION ON THE BASIS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION;

AND

THE GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED TO CONSIDER ANY PROPOSALS THE CHINESE SIDE MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE.

THE SECRETARY SAID THE GOVERNOR HAD ALSO MADE IT CLEAR THAT INTENDED TO MAKE HIMSELF AVAILABLE REGULARLY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS LEGCO MEMBERS AND TO DISCUSS GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROPOSALS.

HE WILL NEXT DO THIS ON DECEMBER 1 MR SZE SAID.

+

HE

FROM

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