2
4.
It was not until late January this year that a reply
was given by the Chinese side to these initial proposals.
The reply was given verbally by YAO Guang to Sir Percy
Cradock. YAO Guang said that the Chinese side could not
accept the proposals; during the three months between October last year when the British side had put forward the proposals until YAO Guang's reply, there had not been
any real negotiation between the two sides on Hong Kong's
future. The British side expressed dissatisfaction
because the Chinese had delayed their reply for three
months and because during this time the Chinese side had not respected the confidentiality of the discussions.
5. YAO GUang explained that the main reason for the
delay had been personnel movements. Previous discussions on the Hong Kong problem had been principally between British Ambassador Sir Percy Cradock and ZHANG Weng, but
now YAO Guang was representing the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
As for the views on the Hong Kong problem expressed by
senior Chinese officials to a variety of people, YAO Guang
said that these were only reiterations of China's public stand and had no bearing on the conduct of the discusisons, indeed they were beneficial to the discussions.
At the same time, YAO Guang emphasised that the sovereignty
issue was not negotiable. After 1997, China would not permit
any form of continuing British control over Hong Kong. Sino/British talks could only proceed on the basis that sovereignty over Hong Kong belonged to China and should discuss ways in which the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong might be preserved in the 14 years from now until 1997. As far as the Chinese Government were concerned, the trans- itional period referred to these 14 years and not to the
period after 1997.
The
6. The source added that provided Britain recognised China's sovereignty over Hong Kong, the Chinese were prepared to discuss with the British matters like Hong Kong's fiscal
/reserves and
....
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.