XN000022-1994-02-26 — Page 4

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1994

CS CLARIFIES BASIS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL TALKS

LEGISLATIVE

TALKS, HAD

THE GOVERNMENT COUNCIL BEFORE SECRETARY, MRS

AT NO STAGE EITHER BEFORE THE TALKS OR DURING THE THE BRITISH SIDE ACCEPTED THE CHINESE POSITION THAT COULD NOT PUT DRAFT LEGISLATION TO THE REACHING ANY AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE, THE ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

CHIEF

THE

COMMENTING ON YESTERDAY'S REMARKS BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CHAN NCNA AFTER SHE OPENED THE ICAC 20TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION, MRS

THE TALKS WERE SAID: "FIRST OF ALL, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE BASIS FOR THREE, I.E. THAT WE WOULD CONDUCT THESE TALKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH

CONVERGENCE JOINT DECLARATION AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLE OF

AND UNDERSTANDING WITH THE BASIC LAW AND ACCORDING TO THE AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

THE

WITH AGREEMENT "WE ALSO MADE CLEAR THAT IF WE REACHED

WOULD BE PREPARED TO CHINESE ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS, THEN WE RECOMMEND THE AGREED PACKAGE TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

"AT NO STAGE EITHER BEFORE THE TALKS OR DURING THE TALKS, WE ACCEPT THE CHINESE POSITION THAT WE COULD NOT PUT DRAFT LEGISLATION TO THE

COUNCIL BEFORE AGREEMENT WAS LEGISLATIVE

DID

REACHED WITH

THE

CHINESE."

CHINA,

MRS

HAVE

IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ABOUT CO-OPERATION WITH CHAN SAID: "I WOULD STRESS THAT WE SEE MANY AREAS IN WHICH WE DO

TO SEE THIS CO- CO-OPERATION WITH THE CHINESE AND WE WOULD WISH OPERATION CONTINUE AND, INDEED, STRENGTHENED.

FULLY COMMITTED TO

AFTER

"THE CHINESE HAVE SAID THAT THEY REMAIN MAINTAINING HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY BOTH NOW AND 1997 AND THEY CAN BE ASSURED OF OUR FULL CO-OPERATION ON THIS FRONT."

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