fallen to their lowest level for a decade. The speed of the
deterioration and the strength of the Chinese response
suggested that, contrary to popular perception, earlier
negotiations had gone near the limits of Chinese
tolerance.
Diplomacy was not entirely asleep, however. The
British offer of talks without preconditions was
maintained; and for some months in early 1993 the British
Ambassador, Sir Robin McLaren, conducted delicate talks
about talks. After an unfortunate interruption in March,
coinciding with the meeting of
of the National People's
Congress in Peking, it was finally announced, on 13 April,
that Britain and China would open confidential discussions
in Peking on the subject of the electoral arrangements for
the 1994-5 elections in Hong Kong.
The talks were to be conducted by two principal
representatives, Sir Robin McLaren himself and the Chinese
Vice Foreign Minister, Jiang Enzhu. They would be assisted
by experts and advisers, on the British side drawn from Hong
Kong as well as from London. The arrangements were
reminiscent of those in 1982-4 during the negotiations on
the Joint Declaration.
The announcement signalled a drawing-back on both
sides. On the British side it also implied a a somewhat
reduced role for Hong Kong. Although the option of breaking
off the talks and referring the issue to Legco was never
abandoned, and was indeed used by the Governor on occasion
as a means of pressure, for the time being at least Hong
Kong's legislators seemed content, almost relieved, to
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