TNAG-2718-FCO40-3924-Hong-Kong-electoral-provisions-and-arrangements-1993 — Page 238

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 533

OF 021014Z APRIL 93

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

p.w.R. Let (§2)

Elections

131601

MDLIAN/4571

MOLIAN/45

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT : PRO-CHINESE ARTICLE ON RE-OPENING OF

TALKS

1. THE APRIL NEWSLETTER OF THE ONE COUNTRY TWO SYSTEMS ECONOMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE (ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SHIU SHIN-POR IS A NEWLY APPOINTED HK AFFAIRS ADVISER) CARRIED AN ARTICLE ENTITLED ''THE LAST CHANCE FOR CHINA AND BRITAIN TO CONDUCT TALKS''. THE ARTICLE SAID THAT THE CHANCE FOR RE-OPENING TALKS STILL EXISTED AND URGED THE GOVERNOR TO SEIZE THE LAST CHANCE AND RE-ESTABLISH TIES WITH THE CHINESE. THE MAIN POINTS OF THE ARTICLE ARE AS FOLLOWS:

(I) LU PING'S REMARKS ON 21 MARCH COUR TELNO 453) HAD CONFIRMED THE POSSIBILITY OF RE-OPENING TALKS. THE CHINESE SIDE HAD HINTED THAT THE BRITISH SIDE SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE, BUT HAD NOT ASKED FOR THE 'WITHDRAWAL OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE BEFORE TALKS COULD RE-START.

(II) DEPARTING FROM USUAL PRACTICE, HKG HAD NOT SPECIFIED THAT THE BILL WOULD BE TABLED IN LEGCO WHEN GAZETTING THE ELECTORAL BILL. THIS SHOWED THAT WE WERE AWARE OF THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF INTRODUCTION. WHILE WE HAD TAKEN THE FIRST STEP IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, WE HAD BEEN CAREFUL IN ENSURING THAT THE BILL WOULD NOT REACH LEGCO FOR THE TIME BEING. THE ARTICLE COMMENTED THAT BOTH SIDES HAD THE INTENTION TO HOLD TALKSO WHICH HAD NOT BEEN AFFECTED BY THE SUDDEN MOVE (GAZETTING) OF THE BRITISH AND THE ENSURING CROSSFIRE.

(III) THE CHINESE HAD SUGGESTED THAT BOTH SIDES SHOULD EACH SEND ON REPRESENTATIVE, TO BE ASSISTED BY SUPPORTING STAFF, IN THE TALKS : THIS HAD ON THE ONE HAND ALLOWED THE PARTICIPATION OF HKG OFFICIALS AND AVOIDED THE SENSITIVE QUESTION OF REPRESENTATION ON THE OTHER. THIS SUGGESTION WAS THEN ACCEPTED BY EXCO. THE ARTICLE THEREFORE FOUND IT HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE GOVERNOR, IN HIS REPLY TO ERIC LI'S LETTER, HAD SAID THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO DISTINCTION AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH