UNCLASSIFIED
0616
MDLIAN 669 -
COMMENTARY IN THE ''GUARDIAN'' WHICH SAID THAT BRITAIN SHOULD LAY DOWN A BOTTOM LINE WHEN RESUMING TALKS WITH THE CHINESE. THE ARTICLE ADDED THAT BRITAIN SHOULD SHELVE THE PROJECT RATHER THAN
MAKE TOO MANY CONCESSIONS.
7. THE SCMP (13.5) SAID SIR DAVID WILSON, WHO WAS IN AUSTRALIA, RULED OUT ANY COMPROMISE WITH CHINA ON THE PROPOSED NEW AIRPORT THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY HAND OVER CONTROL OF THE PROJECT TO
PEKING.
8.
THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE WIDE ANGLE MONTHLY (14.5 REPORTS) NOTED THAT CHINA HAD TWO BOTTOM LINES: (1) ANY IMPORTANT ISSUES STRADDLING 1997 AND REQUIRING THE FUTURE SAR GOVERNMENT TO SHOULDER RESPONSIBILITIES MUST BE DISCUSSED WITH THE CHINESE. (2) STARTING FROM 1991 DOLLARS 16 BILLION MUST BE SET ASIDE IN THE FISCAL RESERVES FOR THE SAR. ASSUMING THE INTEREST RATE WAS EIGHT PER CENT, THE RESERVES WOULD AMOUNT TO DOLLARS 25 BILLION BY 1997.
BILL OF RIGHTS
9. THE HKG WOULD DROP ITS PROPOSAL TO IMPOSE A BLANKET FREEZE PERIOD TO BAR THE BILL OF RIGHTS FROM BEING USED TO CHALLENGE EXISTING LAWS. THE SCMP NOTED THAT HKG'S HOPE TO PRESS AHEAD WITH THE BILL WAS EXPECTED TO FACE CHINA'S OPPOSITION, ESPECIALLY IN THE LIGHT OF THE TENSION ARISING FROM THE AIRPORT ROW.
JLG
10. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHINESE TEAM ON THE JLG TOLD THE CHINA NEWS SERVICE (11.5 REPORTS) THAT THE QUESTION OF SETTING UP A COURT OF FINAL APPEAL WAS BEING DISCUSSED BY THE JLG AND THAT SOME MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING HAD BEEN REACHED. THE REPRESENTATIVE DESCRIBED AS 'GROUNDLESS'' ACCUSATIONS THAT THE CHINESE HAD
DELIBERATELY
NATIONALITY
11.
!
DELAYED THE ISSUE.
THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAD PROPOSED EXTENDING THE VALIDITY DATE FOR THE SAFETY NET SCHEME FOR LOCAL EMPLOYEES OF US COMPANIES SO THAT ELIGIBLE HK RESIDENTS COULD BENEFIT FROM THE SCHEME NEARER TO 1997, THE EXPRESS (10.5) REPORTED.
FORD
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