TNAG-2032-FCO40-2895-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1990 — Page 39

16 JAN '90 13:02

FROM COI TECHNICAL RADIO

TO FCO NEWS

PAGE.01 1

TRANSCRIPT C

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FORBIGE SEC

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PC

HONG KONG 16 JAT 90

FORRIGE SECRETARY (CONT):

1

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QUESTIOE:

In the very beginning of the trip you said you came to

listen to the opinions and now it comes to the end, have you made

any conclusions on the xong Kong peopis's expecialiums un puiilival

reform in 1991 and do you conceive any differences between this

expectation with the Chinese Government's point of will and if

there is how would the British Government react to these

differences?

FOREIGN SECRETARY:

I return very clear from many conversations of the keen

A, AL SI VEL COV

passionate interact

in

S pad gerne

waking an early, definite, strong start in Hong Kong towards direct

clcctions of the Legislative Council. That has been abundantly

clear.

You must ask the Chinese Government exactly how they stand

today on the question of numbers and procedures. The best answer,

which we continue to seek for, is one which will reconcile the

present wishes, expressed for example in the OMELCO consensus, for

bow Bong Kong should start reconcile that with the continuation,

the further strengthening of democracy and democratic elections

after 1977.