TNAG-2719-FCO40-3925-Hong-Kong-electoral-provisions-and-arrangements-1993 — Page 192

UNCLASSIFIED

112443

MDHIAN C 2

ONLY REITERATING THEIR STANDPOINT THAT THE BRITISH SIDE SHOULD NOT ENGAGE IN 'PETTY TRICKS'' DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS.

4. THE EXPRESS TODAY (28 JULY) COMMENTED THAT THE TWO SIDES SHOULD STRIVE FOR AN AGREEMENT ON MAJOR ISSUES IN THE TALKS AND SHOULD NOT BE TOO PICKY ABOUT MINOR DETAILS. THERE WAS NO NEED FOR THE CHINESE SIDE TO LINK THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BEC, WHICH WAS ONLY A TECHNICAL MATTER RELATING TO THE 94/95 ELECTIONS WITHIN HKG'S RESPONSIBILITY, WITH ITS PRINCIPLES. SIMILARLY, CHINA HAD NO GROUNDS TO OBJECT TO THE MERGER OF THE TWO DISTRICTS WHICH WAS ONLY AN ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT SUPPORTED BY LEGCO. THE PAPER SAID THAT IF TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ELECTIONS WERE TO BE REGARDED AS ''EVIDENCE'' OF THE BRITISH SIDE OBSTRUCTING THE TALKS, HKG WOULD THEN HAVE TO CONSULT CHINA ON ALMOST ALL MATTERS BEFORE 1997. INDEPENDENT LEGISLATOR EMILY LAU CRITICISED CHINA'S STAND AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NO NEED TO POLITICISE.

FORD

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MAIN

59

DISTRIBUTION

66

.HK POLICY

HKD

PUSD

FED

LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT

LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS

LEGAL ADVISERS//MR GILES

NEWS D

NTCD

PLANNERS

RAD

PS

PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES MR HUM

ADDITIONAL

7

CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO) CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES

CAOFF//MR SIBSON

PS NO 10.

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