TNAG-2079-FCO40-2959-Hong-Kong-press-coverage-and-reports-1990 — Page 77

UNCLASSIFIED

FM HONG KONG

HKB301

UNCLASSIFIED RECE

No. But it strikes me as

unlikely.

TO PRIORITY F C O

TELNO 3753

GINUL

р.а.

0 2 JAN 1991

025604

MDLIAN 5600

83

Q DIST?

COPY

Rum 19/12

18/12.

(were you aware

aware of para

of para 9?)

OF 180945Z DECEMBER 90

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

PART ONE TWO PARTS

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: PRESS COVERAGE: WEEKLY ROUNDUP

SUMMARY

NEWS RELATING TO HONG KONG'S FUTURE AND THE REPLACEMENT AIRPORT PROJECT CONTINUED TO DRAW PROMINENT AND EXTENSIVE COVERAGE WHILE THE NATIONALITY ISSUE WAS MODERATELY REPORTED. HONG KONG BANK'S PLAN TO FORM A PARENT COMPANY IN THE UK RECEIVED BLANKET COVERAGE TODAY.

FUTURE

JLG

2. THE 17TH ROUND OF JLG MEETINGS WAS FOLLOWED IN GOOD COVERAGE. WITH THE REPORTS GENERALLY PLAYING UP A POINT IN A JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY BOTH SIDES AT THE CLOSE OF THE TALKS THAT AN AGREEMENT HAD BEEN REACHED OVER MAJOR FRANCHISES WHICH WOULD EXTEND BEYOND 1997 AND THAT IT WAS AGREED THAT CHINA WOULD BE KEPT INFORMED ABOUT FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS IN SUCH FRANCHISES THROUGH CERTAIN MECHANISMS.

FRANCHISES

3. LU PING WAS WIDELY QUOTED (16.1) AS SAYING THAT IT WAS PROPER THAT THE BRITISH SIDE SHOULD INFORM THE CHINESE ON FRANCHISES THAT WOULD EXTEND BEYOND 1997 AND THAT SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT WOULD ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF CONTRACTS. HE SAID THAT FRANCHISES THAT STRADDLED 1997 WOULD BECOME THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE SAR GOVERNMENT AFTER 1997 AND THAT CHINA HAD TO BE INFORMED THROUGH THE JLG SO THAT HOLDERS OF THE FRANCHISES, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND HK PEOPLE WOULD SET THEIR HEARTS AT EASE. HE HOPED THAT VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE TAKEN INFO ACCOUNT BY THE BRITISH. HE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS WERE NOT DUE TO THE FACT THAT CHINA WANTED TO INCREASE OR DELETE ANY CONDITIONS NOR WAS IT BECAUSE CHINA DID NOT WANT PRO-BRITISH COMPANIES TO BE AWARDED FRANCHISES.

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