XN000022-1993-12-02 — Page 5

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1993

ON 10 THIS

WE WILL FOLLOW THE NORMAL PROCEDURE, GAZETTE THE BILL DECEMBER, AND INTRODUCE THIS DRAFT LEGISLATION ON 15 DECEMBER. WILL GIVE THE COUNCIL THE CHANCE TO SET UP A COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER THE

BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS RECESS; TO WAIT BILL

WOULD DELAY LONGER EVERYTHING UNTIL MID-JANUARY.

THAT

THAT.

DESPITE THE LIMITED PROGRESS MADE SO FAR, IT IS OUR STRONG HOPE RESOLVE THE THE TALKS WILL CONTINUE SO THAT THE TWO SIDES CAN OUTSTANDING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN US ON THE MAJOR ISSUES. BEGINNING THE то DO LEGISLATION ON THE SIMPLE ISSUES GIVES US A LITTLE MORE TIME

RESOLVE THE PRIME MINISTER HAS PROPOSED AN INTENSIVE EFFORT TO THE REMAINING ISSUES AND I HOPE THE CHINESE SIDE WILL JOIN US IN THAT. WE ARE SEEKING TO PROCEED IN A MEASURED AND ORDERLY WAY, AND WE REMAIN AND KEEN TO CONTINUE TALKING WITH THE CHINESE SIDE IN A CONSTRUCTIVE

SPIRIT. WORKMANLIKE

AT THE END OF THE LAST

THE ROUND, NEGOTIATOR PROPOSED AN 18TH ROUND OF TALKS TO TAKE PLACE THIS WE HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY PROPOSED DATES AND AWAIT A CHINESE REPLY TO PROPOSAL.

BRITISH MONTH. THIS

CLOCK.

NO ONE SERIOUSLY DOUBTS THAT WE ARE WORKING AGAINST THE THESE

THAT WE IT IS AN OPEN SECRET ARE VERY COMPLICATED ELECTIONS. WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE LEGISLATED LAST SUMMER. WE HAVE DELIBERATELY REFRAINED

ANNOUNCING DEADLINES. FROM

THE EVERYONE, INCLUDING

MADE CHINESE SIDE, KNOWS THAT THERE ARE REAL TIME CONSTRAINTS AND WE CLEAR

THEM THAT WE HAD TO START THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THIS DECEMBER.

TO

BUT

THE

AS LEGCO PRESSURE OF TIME IS ON LEGISLATING BOTH FOR THE WELL AS THE DISTRICT ORGANISATION ELECTIONS. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY EXPLAINED TO THE CHINESE SIDE THAT IT WOULD NOT HELP US TO SEPARATE THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE DISTRICT ORGANISATIONS ELECTIONS FROM THOSE FOR LEGCO. THE FOREIGN SECRETARY EXPLAINED THAT IN TERMS TO VICE PREMIER QIAN ON 1ST OCTOBER. WE HAVE ACCEPTED, NOT WITHOUT RESERVATIONS AND NOT WITHOUT CRITICISM, THE CASE FOR SEPARATE BILLS ON SIMPLE AND ON MORE CONTENTIOUS ISSUES PRECISELY IN ORDER TO TRY TO BUY A LITTLE MORE TIME TO DEAL WITH THE LATTER.

I WANT TO EMPHASISE THAT ON ALL MATTERS CONCERNING HONG KONG'S

WE TRANSITION,

WOULD NATURALLY PREFER TO BE ABLE TO PROCEED ON AGREEMENT WITH BASIS OF

CHINA. THAT WOULD BE IN ALL OUR INTERESTS - CHINA'S, BRITAIN'S AND HONG KONG'S.

THE

BEST

WHEN DUTY

IN CERTAIN CASES IT MAY SIMPLY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO DO SO, DIFFERENCES REMAIN BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES. WE THEN HAVE A CLEAR TO FULFIL OUR RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION AND TO PROCEED IN THE WAY THAT WE BELIEVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE, RIGHT AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

DIFFICULT

THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A ENTERPRISE. THERE WERE BOUND TO BE DISAGREEMENTS ALONG THE WAY. BUT THAT IS ALL THE MORE REASON WHY BRITAIN AND CHINA SHOULD DO ALL CAN TO MAINTAIN THEIR GOODWILL AND

EVEN CO-OPERATION, DIFFERENCES REMAIN ON INDIVIDUAL, ALBEIT IMPORTANT DISAGREE ON SOME THINGS, THAT IS NO REASON TO DISAGREE ON EVERYTHING.

ISSUES.

THEY WHERE

IF

WE

DEAL

OF MAKE A HOPE ALL

THE NEXT 3-1/2 YEARS WILL CONTINUE TO REQUIRE A GOOD VISION AND GOOD SENSE FROM BOTH SIDES IF WE ARE GOING TO SUCCESS OF THIS ENTERPRISE. THOSE ARE QUALITIES WHICH I PARTIES WILL DISPLAY IN THE COMING MONTHS AS BOTH BRITAIN AND SURE - CHINA SEEK TO TURN INTO REALITY COMMITMENTS MADE IN THE DECLARATION, COMMITMENTS MADE SOLEMNLY TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

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AM I JOINT

/THE PRESIDENT