TNAG-2709-FCO40-3915-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-and-Par-1993 — Page 173

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Understanding reached in the exchange of messages between

Foreign Secretary and Chinese Foreign Minister in early 1990?

- No.

Documents make it clear that there was no secret deal.

We were prepared to agree in principle to the composition of

the Election Committee, subject to a number of conditions.

The Chinese failed to meet the conditions of the offer. The

fact that they have since treated the composition of the

1995 Election Committee as a matter still to be decided

shows that they did not consider it as settled.

Will the work of the JLG be affected?

Regret lack of progress in recent months. Joint Declaration commits both Governments to closer co-operation in the JLG in the second half of the transition period. That is what

we expect to see.