SWB
FE/1101 A3/1
Ms. Coglin pur Varil service
Ger
A. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
3. FAR EASTERN RELATIONS
18 Jun 91
MKB
НКВ 016/1
ハ
HONG KONG PAPER CITES SENIOR PRC OFFICIAL'S PLEDGE OF NO HONG KONG RESHUFFLE
'Wen Wei Po', Hong Kong, 16 Jun 91
[1]
Text of report by Chen Chien-ping (7115 1696 1627), “Lu Ping Meets Visiting Group From Hong Kong Association of Outstanding Young Persons, Assures High-Ranking Hong Kong Goverment Officials There Will Be No Major Reshuffle in Government After 1997”
During a meeting with a visiting group from the Hong Kong Association of Outstanding Persons this afternoon [16th June], Lu Ping, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, gave assurances that around 1997 there would be no major reshuffle of civil servants who were currently serving in Hong Kong, including high-ranking officials of government agencies, and their future would not be affected by unsuccessful cooperation or differences of opinion between the Chinese and British sides, as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region [SAR] would need their continuous service.
Lu Ping made the above statement this afternoon after listening to members of the visiting group talking about the mentality of high-ranking Hong Kong officials. Lu Ping said: I would like to assure Hong Kong civil servants, including high- ranking officials working with government agencies, that the central government, according to a set policy, does not want to see any major personnel reshuffle around 1997. It is obvious that these civil servants are familiar with the affairs in all fields in Hong Kong and, in the future, Hong Kong will still need their wisdom and managerial experience.
Lu Ping said: Now the civil servants are under British leadership. We fully understand this. The British are their bosses, so they naturally have to follow the bosses' instructions. Lu said he had a thorough understanding of this, and he believed that these civil servants would be able to continue to serve Hong Kong and the Hong Kong people.
Lu Ping said: Another thing that Hong Kong civil servants can rest assured of is that after 1997 the central government will not meddle in any issues like the new Hong Kong airport project, because such issues are categorized as matters to be covered by the high degree of autonomy of the territory. Lu Ping emphasized that the above two points have been elaborated in the "Sino-British Joint Declaration" and clearly defined in the "Basic Law" as well.
The main topic of conversation was the new Hong Kong airport project during this afternoon's meeting. Lu Ping said he wished to see an early settlement of the new airport issue and an early start of the new airport project. He was now pondering on this issue day and night, trying to determine a good solution to the problem. He said he was still hopeful
about the settlement of the issue, and the Chinese side would make every effort to enable Hong Kong to start building a new airport as soon as possible.
Lu Ping said: Regarding the new airport issue, the Chinese side will not be concerned about minute details. The Chinese side's intention is to give general in-principle support for the new airport project through the conclusion of an agreement. After declaration of support for the project, it would be up to the Hong Kong government to make the decisions on the site of the new airport and the large bridge project.
Lu Ping maintained that the solution to the problem must be realistic. Now the question is the necessity of facing the reality and gradually adjusting the stand. The settlement of the issue would be possible as long as the Chinese and British sides could enhance cooperation in accordance with the Joint Declaration. Lu Ping also noted: Over the past 150 years, in Hong Kong, only one side had the say on everything, it is time now to change this idea.
In response to the question on Hong Kong's public order and security raised by members of the visiting group, Lu Ping said he hoped both mainland China and Hong Kong would take effective measures including legal action to solve the problem regarding Hong Kong's public order and security. The mainland would certainly take effective measures to vigorously support Hong Kong's efforts to straighten out public order, he noted.
Speaking about the Hong Kong Legislative Council [Legco] election to be held this September, Lu Ping said he hoped the Hong Kong Legislative Council's September election would be a good start which would lay down a solid foundation for future development of democracy in Hong Kong.
Asked to exppress his opinion on the Vietnamese boat people issue in Hong Kong after 1997, Lu Ping said: The status of Hong Kong as a first asylum was a commitment made by the British government but not by the Chinese government. Therefore, the Chinese government would not recognize this status of Hong Kong as a "first asylum" after 1997. It is hoped that this issue would be appropriately solved by 1997.
During the meeting the two sides also touched on the MFN treatment issue. Present at the meeting was Chen Guangming, deputy director of the second department of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. The visiting group of the Hong Kong Association of Outstanding Persons, headed by Chu Pui-hing, arrived by plane in Peking at noon today, at the invitation of the All-China Youth Federation. After its visit to Peking, the visiting group will head for Inner Mongolia tomorrow evening, which will be the next stop on their China
tour.
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