TNAG-1821-FCO40-2584-Emigration-from-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 11

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MDLIAN 4430

SAKE OF

THAT A COMPROMISE SHOULD NOT BE WORKED OUT SIMPLY FOR THE SEEK ING A COMPROMISE. IN AN EDITORIAL, WEN WEI SAID THAT A SATISFACOTYR RESULT WOULD BE ACHIEVED THROUGH MORE EXCHANGES OF VIEWS. THE INDEPENDENT HK DAILY NEWS CLAIMED THAT IT WOULD TURN THE CONSULTATION EXERCISE INTO A MATTER OF MERE FORMALITY IF AGREEMENT ON THE FORMATION OF THE FIRST SAR GOVERNMENT COULD BE REACHED BY CHINA AND BRITAIN THROUGH DIPLOMATIC TALKS.

FIRST SAR GOVERNMENT

5. THE SCM POST (NOV 15) SAID CHINA WAS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING A PROPOSAL BY BRITAIN TO HAVE MEMBERS OF LEGCO ELECTED IN 1995 FULLY RETURNED TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 1997 BY SIMPLY TAK ING A NEW OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. HOWEVER SUGGESTIONS THAT A PEKING-APPOINTED BODY BE SE UP TO OVERSEE ELECTIONS TO LEGCO IN 1995 WHICH WOULD AUTOM ACICALLY STRADDLE THE 1997 HANDOVER DATE UNTIL 1999 AND ''TWIN ELECTIONS'' IN 1995 HAD FAILED TO WIN THE SUPORT OF PEKING. THE HK

STANDARD (15.11), QUOTING WELL-PLACED CHINESE SOURCES, SAID PEKING WAS PREPARED TO LISTEN TO LONDON'S VIEWS ON THE FORMATION OF THE

FIRST SAR GOVERNMENT.

OUTLOOK WEEKLY

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6. AN ARTICLE IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE OVERSEAS EDITION OF OUTLOOK WEEKLY SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, AND CHINESE OFFICIALS HAD DISCUSSIONS ON SOME PRACTICAL QUESTIONS AND PROPOSALS, WITH THE EMPHASIS ON THE DEEPENING OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING ON MAJOR PRINCIPLES. ON THE QUESTION OF THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER HK, THE ARTICLE SAID THE TWO SIDES HAD REACHED A CONSENSUS ON TWO MAJOR PRINCIPLES OF REALISING SOVEREIGNTY AND A SMOOTH TRANSITION. THE CHINESE HAD ALSO INDICATED CLEARLY THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE FIRST SAR GOVERNMENT MUST BE RETURNED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

BRAIN DRAIN

7. COUNCILLORS WHO SPOKE ON THE BRAIN DRAIN AT A TWO-DAY LEGCO DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY SPPERH GENERALLY STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF GROOMING PEOPLE WHO STAYED IN HK, SAYING THAT THIS WOULD HELP INCREASE THEIR SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE TERRITORY. SPEAK ING A A LUNCHEON MEETING ON NOV 10, US CONSUL-GENERAL IN HK DONALD ANDERSON SAID THAT BECAUSE OF A CHANGE IN US'S IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS 3,000 MORE EMIGRATION VISAS WOULD BE ISSUED TO HK PEOPLE THIS YEAR. IN COMMENTARIES. THE NATIONALIST HK TIMES (NOV 14)

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