UNCLASSIFIED
HKC
012/4.
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2827
OF 04075OZ DECEMBER 92
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
Da
126
132551
MDLIAN 9782
BODY TO HANDLE TRANSITIONAL MATTERS: PRESS REPORTS.
1.
(4
QUOTING SOURCES THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC TIMES TODAY DECEMBER) REPORTED THAT THE CHINESE SIDE WERE PLANNING TO SET UP
AN OFFICIAL BODY COMPRISING BOTH MAINLAND AND HONG KONG MEMBERS TO HANDLE TRANSITIONAL MATTERS, INCLUDING THE VETTING OF CONTRACTS, LEASES AND FRANCHISES STRADDLING 1997. THIS BODY WOULD BE A STATUTORY ONE WITH CLEAR TERMS OF REFERENCE. IT WOULD COMPRISE 20 MEMBERS EACH FROM THE MAINLAND AND HONG KONG, SO THAT ITS COMPOSITION WOULD CONVERGE WITH THAT LAID DOWN IN THE BASIC
LAW FOR THE SAR PREPARATORY COMMITTEE.
2.
THE SOURCES SAID THAT AS ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE BODY
WOULD BE TO SCRUTINISE CONTRACTS ETC... STRADDLING 1997, THE MAINLAND MEMBERS WOULD CERTAINLY INCLUDE SENIOR OFFICIALS. HONG
KONG MEMBERS WOULD BE DRAWN MAINLY FROM THE PRACTICAL AND
PROFESSIONAL FIELDS, AS THE CHINESE SIDE DID NOT WANT THE HONG
KONG MEMBERS TO HAVE TOO MANY BUSINESS CONNECTIONS SO AS TO AVOID
ANY CONFLICT OF INTERESTS.
3.
ACCORDING TO THE SOURCES, THE SETTING UP OF SUCH A BODY WAS AIMED AT MAKING EARLY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TRANSITION AND FURTHER UNDERMINING THE GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY. WHILE THE CHINESE SIDE WOULD NOT DIRECTLY ADMIT THAT THIS BODY WAS ANOTHER CENTRE OF POWER IN HONG KONG, IT WOULD IN EFFECT BE SO IN VIEW OF
ITS FUNCTIONS.
4.
TA KUNG PAO QUOTED HONG KONG AFFAIRS ADVISER DOROTHY LIU
YIU-CHU AS SAYING THAT SUCH AN ORGANISATION WOULD COME UNDER
HKMAO OF STATE COUNCIL. IT SHOULD BEST BE SET UP IN PEKING OR SHENZHEN, ALTHOUGH LIAISON WORK COULD BE DONE THROUGH NCNA HERE.
PATTEN
YYYY
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