UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 971
OF 20094OZ MARCH 90
UNCLASSIFIED
"HK 63011 нквзої
26 MAR 1990
INDLA
TRY
GISTRY
LAUR
Taken
13)
102515 MDLIAN 7779
Ра
WH
H20/3
INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON PEKING UKREP JLG HONG KONG INFO ROUTINE HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK, HKGO SAN FRANCISCO INFO ROUTINE HKGO GENEVA, UKMIS GENEVA
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: PRESS COVERAGE: WEEKLY ROUNDUP
SUMMARY
1. A WHITE BILL ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE DREW PROMINENT COVERAGE. THE THIRD PLENUM OF THE SEVENTH NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS ALSO RECEIVED ATTENTION.
BILL OF RIGHTS
2. THE MEDIA (17.3) GAVE PROMINENT AND EXTENSIVE COVERAGE TO THE PUBLICATION OF A WHITE BILL ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE BILL BY THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MICHAEL SUEN. SOME REPORTS STRESSED THAT ALTHOUGH THE BILL WOULD ENJOY SUPREMACY OVER OTHER LOCAL LAWS BEFORE 1997, THE FUTURE SAR GOVERNMENT COULD STILL REPEAL IT. IT WAS NOTED THE MR SUEN COULD NOT GIVE A REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS ON HOW TO ENSURE THE BILL WOULD REMAIN VALID BEYOND 1997. MR SUEN TOLD THE MEDIA THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD NOT DISCUSSED THE STATUS OF THE BILL WITH THE CHINESE SIDE.
CHINA
3. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CHINESE TEAM ON THE JLG SAID THAT AS THE CONTENTS OF THE BILL WOULD INVOLVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND WOULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TERRITORY AFTER
1997,
IT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED BY THE JLG, THE MEDIA (17.3) REPORTED. HE ADDED THAT AS THE BRITISH SIDE HAD PUBLISHED THE BILL UNILATERALLY WITHOUT PRIOR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE, THE CHINESE RESERVED THE RIGHTS TO RESPOND TO THE BILL. A VICE-DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG AND MACAU AFFAIRS OFFICE, LI HOU, SAID THAT THE BILL SHOULD BE DISCUSSED BY THE JLG IF IT WAS INTENDED TO REMAIN IN FORCE AFTER 1997, SOME PAPERS (20.3) REPORTED.
BRITAIN
4. A FEW PAPERS (17.3) QUOTED A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BRITISH TEAM ON THE JLG AS SAYING THAT THE BRITISH SIDE HAD INFORMED THE CHINESE
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UNCLASSIFIED
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