TNAG-1356-FCO40-1797-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 152

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5. IN RESPONSE TO THE INEVITABLE PRESS QUESTIONS THAT WOULD FOLLOWS, WE SHOULD TAKE THE FOLLOWING LINE:

(A) Q. WHAT KIND OF EXCHANGE?

A. AN EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION.

(B) Q. DID THE CHINESE EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL

DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG?

A. CHINESE CONCERNS WERE STATED: THEY ARE ALREADY WELL KNOWN.

(C) Q. WHAT DID THE BRITISH SIDE, SAY?

A. THE BRITISH SIDE EXPLAINED THE FACTS.

(D) Q. DID THE BRITISH SIDE GIVE THE CHINESE A VETO?

A. NO QUESTION OF THAT.

(E) Q. DID THE BRITISH SIDE UNDERTAKE TO CONDUCT A CONTINUING

CONSULTATION IN THE JLG?

A. NO.

(F) Q. HOW DID THE CHINESE SIDE REACT TO THE BRITISH EXPLANATION

OF THE FACTS?

A. MATTER FOR THEM.

(G) Q. WILL THE BRITISH SIDE CONSULT THE CHINESE SIDE IN THE JLG

BEFORE THE 1987 REVIEW?

A. THE AIM OF THE 1987 REVIEW IS TO SEEK THE OPINIONS OF THE

HONG KONG PEOPLE.

(G) Q. WILL THE 1987 REVIEW BE DELAYED?

DID THE CHINESE ASK FOR THIS?

A. NO TO BOTH.

(H) Q. DOES THE BRITISH SIDE RULE OUT DIALOGUE WITH CHINA IN THIS

AREA?

A. NOT AT ALL. WE STRONGLY FAVOUR DIALOGUE. THIS SHOULD BEST BE

INFORMAL AT THIS STAGE.

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