TNAG-2708-FCO40-3914-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-and-Par-1993 — Page 30

GOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.

FRI 12 MAR 93 06:48

PG.02

RESTRICTED

STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR,

THE RT. HON. CHRISTOPHER PATTEN

TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: 12 MARCH 1993

I

Co

Let me first of all apologise to Honourable Members for having to postpone my appearance before this Council yesterday afternoon at such short notice. appreciate the inconvenience this will have caused Honourable Members. We did, as Honourable Members know,

receive a further communication from the Chinese side at

about 1 o'clock; we had to consider this urgently during the course of yesterday afternoon, and I would not have been in a position to provide the Council with any more

information. than I was last week.

I am, however, in a position to make a

statement this afternoon.

further

Despite our hopes and our best endeavours right up until this afternoon, it has so far still not proved possible to resolve the differences between the British and Chinese sides that stand in the way of talks getting underway. I particularly regret this, as we consider these differences could and should be resolved quickly.

I realise that this news will cause considerable disappointment throughout the community. disappointment that I share, hence the efforts that have made to achieve the progress we would all like to

see.

It is a

we

We have made clear since October that we are

That remains our willing to talk without pre-conditions.

position.

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