UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 870
UNCLASSIFIED
HKB 011/7
RECEIVED INEGISTRY
0 JUN 1393
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
OF 290435Z MAY 93
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
COPY Q LIST?
34
117540
MDLIAN 6192
Pa
TALKS ON 1994/95 ELECTIONS: PRESS REPORTS
REMARKS BY REPRESENTATIVES
1. THE FOURTH ROUND OF THE TALKS ON 1994/95 ELECTIONS REMAINED A FOCUS OF MEDIA INTEREST TODAY (29 MAY). PRESS REPORTS
HIGHLIGHTED SIR ROBIN MCLAREN'S REMARKS THAT THE TALKS HAD NOT BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY CHINESE CRITICISMS ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION (BEC) BILL.
2. TA KUNG PAO AND WEI WEI PO PLAYED UP JIANG ENZHU'S REMARKS BEFORE THE MEETING THAT SINCERITY ON BOTH SIDES WAS VITAL. ON THE BEC BILL, HE SAID THE CHINESE STAND HAD BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR IN THE MFA STATEMENT. PRESS REPORTS NOTED THAT JIANG DID NOT COMMENT DIRECTLY ON WHETHER THE RESUMPTION OF THE MEETING OF THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE INDICATED THAT THE CURRENT TALKS HAD MADE PROGRESS. HE JUST SAID THAT IT DEMONSTRATED THE CHINESE SIDE'S EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY.
SOURCES
3.
THE HK ECONOMIC TIMES QUOTED A CHINESE SOURCE AS SAYING THAT THE PASSAGE OF THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION BILL HAD AFFECTED THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE TALKS AND THE RE-BUILDING OF MUTUAL TRUST. THE SOURCE SAID WHILE THE TALKS WERE IN PROGRESS, THE BRITISH DID NOT NEED TO RUSH IN PASSING THE LEGISLATION.
A CHINESE OFFICIAL TOLD SING TAO DAILY THAT THE PASSAGE OF THE BEC BILL BEFORE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED ON THE ELECTORAL ISSUES WAS INAPPROPRIATE, AND WAS SIMILAR TO THE TENDER INVITATION FOR THE TSING MA BRIDGE AND THE GAZETTING OF THE ELECTORAL BILL IN MARCH. THE OFFICIAL SAID CHINA HAD SHOWN ENOUGH SINCERITY BY AGREEING TO THE LAND DISPOSAL PROGRAMME, THE THREE FRANCHISES AND THE RESUMPTION OF THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE MEETING. BUT THE BRITISH SIDE HAD AGAIN PLAYED PETTY TRICKS. THIS WAS NOT A DEMONSTRATION
1
PAGE
UNCLASSIFIED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.