RESTRICTED
023166
MDHIAN 3414
BILL OF RIGHTS, CHINA'S
OBJECTION WAS TO THE PRINCIPLE OF LEGISLATION WHICH HAD A DIFFERENT STATUS FROM THE BASIC LAW. IN GENERAL, CHINA WISHED TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT OF HONG KONG UNTIL 1997 AND THERE SHOULD BE
CONSULTATION THEREAFTER.
5.
THERE HAD BEEN ALSO A LENGTHY DISCUSSION ON US/CHINA QIAN QICHEN HAD CHARACTERISED PRESIDENT BUSH'S DECISION ON MEN AS ''CLEVER''. NAKAYAMA HAD URGED THE CHINESE TO TAKE STEPS ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND ARMS CONTROL WHICH WOULD EASE CONGRESSIONAL PRESSURE. QIAN QICHEN HAD IN REPLY STRESSED CHINESE COOPERATION ON MTCR, CONVENTIONAL ARMS CONTROL AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES. HE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE OBJECTIVES OF THE NPT AND SAID THAT CHINA WOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE PART IN A MEETING WITH SOVIET UNION, US, INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO DISCUSS NON-PROLIFERATION IN SOUTH ASIA. (COMMENT: QIAN QICHEN WAS SUBSEQUENTLY QUOTED IN THE PRESS AS SAYING THAT CHINA MAY JOIN THE NPT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.)
6.
KITERA NOTED FINALLY THAT QIAN QICHEN HAD RAISED THE G7 SUMMIT AND HAD ASKED JAPAN TO TAKE A SIMILAR LINE ON CHINA AS THEY HAD DONE IN PREVIOUS YEARS. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE JAPANESE WERE AWARE OF A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH TO THE SUMMIT. THEY WERE NOW CONSIDERING A SPECIAL ENVOY TO PEKING AFTERWARDS TO MAINTAIN THIS NEW ELEMENT IN THEIR BILATERAL DIALOGUE.
FIELD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
22
LIMITED
HKD
FED
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
22
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
2
PAGE RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.