TNAG-1932-FCO40-2758-Future-of-Hong-Kong-13th-meeting-of-the-Sino-British-Joint-L-1989 — Page 23

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021326 MDLIAN 2603

JLG XIII AGENDA PRESS REPORTS

1. MEDIA IN HONG KONG REPORTED TODAY A REUTERS DISPATCH THAT THE STATIONING OF THE PLA IN THE HKSAR WOULD BE A POINT OF CONTENTION WHEN JLG RESUMES IN SEPTEMBER, QUOTING DIPLOMATIC SOURCES.

2. THE SOURCES SAID THAT THE CHINESE SIDE HOPED THAT JLG XIII AGENDA COULD RESEMBLE THOSE OF THE PREVIOUS JLG MEETINGS AS IF THE TIENANMEN INCIDENT HAD NEVER HAPPENED. SOURCES ALSO INDICATED THAT THE BRITISH SIDE HOPED THAT THE CHINESE WOULD AGREE TO EITHER NOT STATIONING TROOPS IN HONG KONG OR TO STATIONING JUST A SMALL GARRISON. THE CHINESE HOWEVER FELT THAT THE STATIONING OF THE PLA WAS A SYMBOL OF SOVEREIGNTY AND HENCE WAS BEYOND THE AMBIT OF THE JLG. NEVERTHELESS, THE CHINESE SIDE WOULD BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE ROLE OF THE PLA.

3. THE SOURCES SAID THAT THE BRITISH SIDE HOPED THAT THE ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLTICAL SYSTEM AND THE PROPOSED BILL OF RIGHTS WOULD ALSO BE DISCUSSED. THE CHINESE HOWEVER INSISTED THAT THE PACE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACTIC GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED BY THE BLDC.

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