TNAG-2716-FCO40-3922-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1993 — Page 200

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MDLIAN 7951

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FM PEKING

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INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

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HONG KONG: MFA SPOKESMAN ON FAC SESSION

SUMMARY

1.

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Relatively low-key criticism of FCO Legal evidenee to the FAC.

DETAIL

the FAC.

2.

At today's (4 November) MFA press conference, Wu Jianmin was asked to comment on an FCO Legal Adviser's statement to the FAC on 3 November that our proposals for the 1994/95 elections were consistent with the JD and the provisions of the BL and that the seven letters contained only an unfinished discussion between the two sides and were therefore not binding on Britain: did this statement demonstrate that the British side lacked sincerity about returning to the Three Principles and did it mean that the talks would not have a successful outcome ?

3.

Wu replied that the Government Representatives of China and Britain had agreed to negotiate to resolve this issue on the basis of the Three Principles. There had already been 15 Rounds of talks and the 16th would be held next week (sic). During those 15 Rounds, some progress had been made but we were still some distance from reaching agreement. The Chinese side hoped the two sides would continue to make efforts. They were sincere and hoped we would be able to reach agreement on the basis of the three principles. Against this backdrop, it appeared inappropriate to make unwarranted remarks and interfere with the talks.

MCLAREN

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