TNAG-2716-FCO40-3922-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1993 — Page 137

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and Basic Law. I certainly formed the very different view from what the

Chinese Government said to us when we were in Beijing. They claimed they

had put forward a counter proposal which they regarded as being in

accordance with the Declaration and the Basic Law. Is there a difference

of view between the two governments on this point?

(Mr Hum) I believe you are talking about the negotiations which are

now going on with China.

70.

Yes.

(Mr Hum) It is agreed between ourselves and the Chinese Government

that we should regard these negotiations as confidential as far as their

substance is concerned, but what I can say is that these discussions are

now extremely detailed. They are covering the ground very thoroughly

indeed. The Governor indicated in his address to LegCo at the beginning of

the month that he had made certain adjustments to our position in the hope

of coming closer to common ground with the Chinese side. I think

negotiations will continue in this spirit. They are very detailed, very

substantial and very down to earth.

71.

You said earlier on the record that the Chinese Government had

not put forward, and I think you used the phrase, a proper worked out set

of counter proposals in accordance with the Joint Declaration. They

Could you just clarify your

claimed to us that they had done just that.

evidence on that point?

(Mr Chamberlain) I think what we were saying was that the Chinese

have not substantiated their allegations that the proposals which the

Governor made in October 1992 had infringed the Basic Law. I think that is

what I said and I maintain that view.

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