TNAG-2457-FCO40-3578-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-presentation-1992 — Page 17

UNCLASSIFIED

077104

MDHIAN 9057

CHINESE GOVERNMENT COULD NOT COMPROMISE OR GIVE WAY ON ANY MATTER OF PRINCIPLE. THE CHINESE SIDE HOPED THAT THE BRITISH SIDE WOULD PROCEED FROM THE OVERALL SITUATION OF UPHOLDING SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS AND SAFEGUARDING HONG KONG'S LONG TERM PROSPERITY AND STABILITY AND IN REAL EARNEST RETURN TO THE CORRECT PATTERN. THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY OUT.

ENDS.

3.

ACCORDING TO THE LEFT-WING PRESS IN HONG KONG ON 23 NOVEMBER, LU PING ALSO MADE HARD-LINE COMMENTS TO THE NEW HONG KONG ALLIANCE ON 22 NOVEMBER. WE BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE FIRST TIME LU HAS SPELT OUT: (A) THAT THERE ARE ARE MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED BY THE TWO SIDES: AND (B) THAT CHINA'S PRECONDITIONS FOR TALKING ARE THE GOVERNOR'S WITHDRAWAL OF HIS PROPOSALS AND HMG'S CONFIRMATION THAT THE SERIES OF UNDERSTANDINGS AND AGREEMENTS ALREADY REACHED ARE

STILL EFFECTIVE (OTHERWISE ANY AGREEMENTS REACHED IN THE FUTURE

COULD BE CAST ASIDE BY HMG AT WILL).

MCLAREN

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

.HK POLICY

63

DISTRIBUTION

72

PLANNERS

HKD

PUSD

FED

LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT

.AND MS BROOKS

NEWS D

RAD

PS

PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES

MR APPLEYARD MR HUM

ADDITIONAL

9

CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE

CAOFF //MISS NEVILLE-JONES

CAOFF//MR SIBSON

Ell

CAOFF MS D..CORNER

~~~~

CAOFF//MR CHARLTON PS/PM

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UNCLASSIFIED