TNAG-2589-FCO40-3777-Diplomatic-representation-of-China-in-Hong-Kong-Chinese-Mini-1992 — Page 3

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 930

OF 290841Z JUNE 92

AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

KC 406/1

154416 MDHIAN 9643

TOP COPY

Q DIST?

1 CM

INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG

8

g

حمر

YOUR TELNO 1003 TO HONG KONG AND HONG KONG TELNO 1735: COMMENTS BY MFA SPOKESMAN

1.

IN VIEW OF THE INTEREST GENERATED BY OUR SUMMARY REPORT OF THE SPOKESMAN'S COMMENTS ON EXCO APPOINTMENTS WE HAVE RECHECKED THE RECORDS OF THE MEETING AVAILABLE TO US. THE FOLLOWING FULLER ACCOUNT MAY CLARIFY THE SITUATION.

2.

THE SPOKESMAN WAS ASKED BY CNN ABOUT CHINA'S RIGHT TO COMMENT ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A SECOND QUESTION ASKING WHETHER APPOINTMENTS TO EXCO WERE LINKED TO THE AIRPORT QUESTION.

3.

IN REPLY TO THE FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE SENIOR CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE ON THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP HAD THE RIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE KNOWN CHINA'S POSITION ON QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE SMOOTH TRANSITION OF POWER IN HONG KONG. ON THE SECOND PART HE SAID BOTH SIDES WERE CONDUCTING DISCUSSIONS AND IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO COMMENT ON EITHER SIDE'S POSITION. CHINA HAD CONSISTENTLY ACTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE AIRPORT MOU.

MCLAREN

YYYY

LAST PAPER

MAIN

55

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

.(RESTRICTED)

HKD

PUSD

DISTRIBUTION

56

NEWS D PLANNERS

RAD

PS/MR GOODLAD

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CONFIDENTIAL