XN000022-1993-04-06 — Page 17

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

as to exclude some people from travelling on it at all, but is also to have an automatic ejector seat for liberals who are not greatly liked in July 1997, then it has fewer attractions than

a through-train should have. These are issues which have been insufficiently debated and deserve to be given a little more

public attention.

It cannot be a bottom line in the sense that other things plainly are, when the ultimate decision will rest not only with the British Government but with the Chinese Government. The Hong

Kong Government and Hong Kong Community, as well as the British

Government, would like to know exactly what is intended so far

as legislators, properly elected in 1995, are concerned. Some

of those legislators would like to know too.

should be

Firstly, it is our position that Britain

represented as it always has been, as it was in negotiating thế Joint Declaration, as it is in the Joint Liaison Group which is where, after all, we could be having these discussions if the

original Chinese suggestion had come to fruition.

I do not understand what the problem is. I have stated

unequivocally as I am sure has the Foreign Secretary that the talks are between the two sovereign powers. Some may think that

it was an aspect of our sovereignty that we should be able to

choose who represented Britain. But I do not want to push that

matter too hard in case it makes talks about talks about talks

more difficult.

I have a problem in understanding what the snag is.

foreign ministry spokesman in Beijing said after the breakdown

of the talks about talks, that Hong Kong Government officials did

/NOT HAVE