TNAG-1872-FCO40-2660-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1989 — Page 7

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FM PEKING

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1324

OF 100745Z JULY 89

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG

INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG

92

106361

MDHIAN 2571

HONG KONG AND MACAO DELEGATES TO NPC STANDING COMMITTEE AND CPPCC.

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1 XINHUA AND CHINA DAILY OVER THE WEEKEND HAVE REPORTED THAT JIANG ZEMIN AND JI PENGFEI HAVE HAD MEETINGS WITH MA MAN KEI, LEOPOLD H.C. TANG AND OTHER HONG KONG AND MACAO DELEGATES TO THE NPC/CPPCC, CURRENTLY VISITING CHINA. IN ITS LEAD ITEM FOR 8 JULY CHINA DAILY REPORTS THAT JIANG ZEMIN REITERATED THAT CHINA'S POLICY OF ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS' REMAINS UNCHANGED AND THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL UNSWERVINGLY OBSERVE ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION.

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THESE HONG KONG VISITORS HAVE NOT MADE ANY CONTACT WITH THE EMBASSY, NOR WE WITH THEM. WE HAVE MADE CLEAR AS NECESSARY TO ENQUIRERS FROM WESTERN MEDIA THAT THIS IS THE CASE AND THAT WE HAVE NO PRIVILEGED INFORMATION ON THEIR ACTIVITIES. IN PRACTICE WE IMAGINE THE FULLEST PICTURE WILL PROBABLY EMERGE WHEN MA MAN KEI AND THE OTHERS FACE THE PRESS ON THEIR RETURN TO HONG KONG.

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PLEASE SEE M I FT FOR ANOTHER CHINESE COMMENT ON HONG KONG PUBLISHED AT THE WEEKEND. THERE IS NOW A CLEAR PATTERN TO CHINESE PUBLIC PRONOUNCEMENTS ON HONG KONG. THE ASSURANCE THAT CHINA'S POLICIES TO HONG KONG REMAIN UNCHANGED IS COUPLED WITH A REMINDER THAT THE POLICY OF ''ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS'' CARRIES OBLIGATIONS ON BOTH SIDES. IN EXCHANGE FOR NOT EXTENDING SOCIALIST POLICIES TO HONG KONG, CHINA EXPECTS HONG KONG PEOPLE NOT TO INTERFERE IN CHINA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS. THERE IS ALSO A PREDICTABLE ATTEMPT TO CAST ALL BLAME FOR ANY CURRENT DISRUPTION OF HONG KONG-RELATED WORK ON TO THE BRITISH SIDE.

DONALD

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