18. We and the Governor have made plain from the outset that we are ready to discuss these issues with the Chinese Government without preconditions. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary briefed the Chinese Foreign Minister on the Governor's proposals two weeks before the Governor announced them to the Legislative Council in October 1992. The Governor sent a message in parallel to a senior Chinese official. But it would have created much speculation and uncertainty in Hong Kong if we had engaged in months of protracted talks with the Chinese authorities about the
proposals before the Governor explained his thinking to the people of Hong Kong. This was not a politically viable option.
19.
The Governor went to Peking in October 1992, shortly after his inaugural address to the Legislative Council. But Chinese leaders refused to discuss his proposals. They demanded that the Governor withdraw his proposals before any discussion about electoral arrangements could take place. The Chinese press subsequently attacked the Governor personally and his proposals, without offering any alternative suggestions. Statements from the Chinese side cast doubt on the continuing validity after 1997 of Government contracts and franchises, and suggested that China might begin to prepare alternative arrangements for the legislature in 1997.
20. We continued to make it clear to the Chinese side that we
were ready to talk to them, at any time, without preconditions, in order to see whether an understanding could be reached on the 1994/95 electoral arrangements. Intensive diplomatic contacts took place in February and March 1993 in Peking to explore whether a productive basis for formal talks about these electoral
arrangements could be found. We said that we were ready for the talks to proceed on the basis of the Joint Declaration, the principle of convergence with the Basic Law, and the relevant
select.cttee.PR.JRB
8
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.