HGB 011/6
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RECE INISTRY
08 JUL 1993
30
PRIME MINISTER'S QUESTION TIME: 6 JULY
HONG KONG
Foreign Secretary's visit to Peking (9 July)
We and the Governor agreed that Douglas Hurd should meet the Chinese Foreign Minister to discuss Hong Kong issues. He will be accompanied by a Senior Hong Kong official.
- We are keen to make progress in our talks with the Chinese side in the interest of Hong Kong.
At his meeting with the Governor and other Ministers last week the Prime Minister expressed wholehearted support for the Governor's proposals, and for the conduct of the talks with China. It was agreed that we should press ahead with the talks.
Our aim is to secure agreement on electoral arrangements which are fair, open and acceptable to the people of Hong Kong.
Is there a deadline for the negotiations?
We want the talks to succeed. It would not be helpful to start talking about deadlines.
But
clearly the talks cannot go on for
ever. Legislation must be in
place in time for the 1994
District Board election.
IN
REGISTRY
"sken
Will the Governor's proposals be watered down?
The Governor's approach has the full support of the British Government as we agreed again last week. His aim and our aim in the talks with China, is to secure agreement on electoral arrangements which are open, fair and acceptable to the people of Hong Kong.
(Defensive: National People's Congress set up preparatory group for post-1997 Hong Kong).
Under the Joint Declaration Britain is responsible for administering 'Hong Kong up to 1997. No one is questioning that.
hk.pm.PR
SLM
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