TNAG-2709-FCO40-3915-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-and-Par-1993 — Page 127

We have given a copy to the Chinese. A copy is in the Library

of the House.

We want to achieve as much continuity as possible for Hong Kong in 1997. It therefore makes sense to discuss these issues with the Chinese Government with the aim of reaching an understanding with them. We have been trying to arrange talks for several months. We received a positive response on the principle of talks from the Chinese side in early February. You might find it useful to know the basis on which we were

prepared to hold them.

First, we accepted that the talks should be on the basis of the Joint Declaration, the principle of convergence with the Basic Law and the relevant understandings and agreements reached between Britain and China. The Governor's proposals are wholly compatible with these.

Second we told the Chinese side that the British team in these discussions would include representatives of the Hong Kong Government on the same basis as other officials taking part in the talks. Hong Kong officials have participated over the last ten years in discussions with the Chinese side as members of the British team, including during the negotiations on the Joint Declaration and subsequently as members of the Joint Liaison Group. We cannot and do not accept what some Chinese officials have said in the last few days that the role of people from Hong Kong should be downgraded in discussions about Hong Kong's future.

To help get talks started, we and the Governor therefore decided, with the advice of the Executive Council in Hong Kong, to postpone the original plan to publish the draft electoral legislation in Hong Kong's Official Gazette on 12 February. As the diplomatic contacts proceeded, we held up

dearcolleague18.3/LETTERS