TNAG-2717-FCO40-3923-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1993 — Page 99

1990 EXCHANGES

CONFIDENTIAL

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We have repeatedly made clear that the exchanges between Britain and China in early 1990 did not

constitute an agreement or understanding on the electoral arrangements for 1995 in Hong Kong.

It is quite clear from the text of the seven messages which we published in 1992 that, at the end of these

exchanges, the question of electoral arrangements in

Hong Kong up to 1997 remained open.

Ministers did not authorise the then Ambassador in

Peking during exchanges between the British and Chinese Governments in 1990 to indicate any agreement

or to reach any understandings not covered in the published exchanges of messages. There is therefore no reason why the Chinese authorities should have gained the impression that HMG believed that any

agreement or understanding had been reached.

CONFIDENTIAL

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