XN000022-1993-04-02 — Page 6

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

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proposed the talks and it has been China, not Britain, which has argued for preconditions.

We are, today, prepared to talk on the basis proposed by China. OF TEXTS That la, on the basis to which I've referred. We have not doubt, whatsoever, that those talks have to be held between the sovereign powers - between the present sovereign power, Britain, and the future sovereign power, China. The distinguished Chinese the talks Prime Minister, Mr. Li Peng, said earlier this week, must be between Britain and China. There is no argument, whatsoever, between us on that. It is wholly conceded, all We round, that the talks should be between Britain and China.

our ambassador in would send to the talks a representative - Peking - supported by officials to discuss the 1994 District Board and the 1995 Legislative Council elections on the basis of the text proposed at the beginning of February by Chinese officials. We're prepared to accept all that.

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new

What we're not prepared to accept is that the members of the British Team should be divided into two classes, those who are British government officials and those who are Hong Kong

think China would regard it officials. government TRY To impertinent if I was to choose China's team at any talks with the

don't

this know why it is United Kingdom.

is that precondition, new in the history of relations between Britain and HAS BEEN China), but I'm bound to say that I don't think it's very helpful. INVENTED I hope that we can get round this snag. I hope that we can get

'round this

this difficulty. I hope we can get 'round this precondition which has not been raised by the United Kingdom, but has been raised by China. I hope we can get 'round those problems, I hope we can embark on real talks about political development in Hong Kong. I say that with, to borrow a phrase, "complete sincerity." If I hadn't wanted talks, I wouldn't have bean arguing for talks for the last six months. But, while I say that with complete sincerity, I recognise, as I'm suze others do, that any talks would be extremely difficult. If its as difficult as it has proved to get talks startad, to get talks finished on a satisfactory basis would clearly be an even greater challenge, but I hope it's a challenge to which Britain and China can in due course rise, so that we can agree arrangements for the 1995 elections which enable us to discharge our obligations in China honourably (in Hong Kong) with China, honourably and competently.

I think that if we have these discussions, China will cartainly First of all, what want to answer three very simple questions. aza China's proposals for the 1995 Legislative Council elections? I know the adjectives, I know the names that are being called, but it would be useful after about three million words, just to have one or two words about positive, constructiva proposals for the 1995 elections from China, I think the people of Hong Kong deserve that.

Secondly, I think that China will want to tell the Hong Kong

and

whether it others,

to community.

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have prepared arrangements in 1995 for fair elections, that is arrangements which may produce a Legislative Council some of whose members China doesn't much care fox. That is, after all, in the natura of a fair electoral process.

/AND, THIRDLY