TNAG-2730-FCO40-3936-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 60

CONFIDENTIAL

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11 14N 1992

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M. Ehrman, Hang Kang Mr Cox, Pekking

Mr Ricketts, HKD OR

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Date :

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Mr. Mann's Mr Bund

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7 January 1993

PS

PS/Mr Goodlad PS/PUS

Sir J Coles

Mr Davies, FED

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Mirr fenders il y M

HONG KONG : CONVERSATION WITH CHINESE AMBASSADÕR

1.

I had a talk with the Chinese Ambassador at a Chinese reception yesterday evening.

2.

However

Ambassador Ma began by asking me about the Daily Mail report on a visit to Peking by the Secretary of State in April. Had we been in contact with the Chinese authorities about a visit? I said that we attached importance to the provision in the Airport MOU that Foreign Ministers should meet every six months. no firm plans had yet been made, nor had we yet been in contact with the Chinese side. Any such visit was more likely to take place in the Easter recess (ie April) than earlier. I was sure that nothing more than that had been said to the press.

There was no

But he and we

3. Ma then turned to constitutional development in Hong Kong. He asked me if I thought it was possible that the Governor would withdraw his constitutional proposals before anything was tabled in LegCo. I said that the Governor remained attached to his proposals, and the British Government supported him in this. question of his withdrawing the proposals. had made it clear all along that we welcomed counter-proposals, from whatever quarter, and would take these seriously. A number of people in Hong Kong, both in LegCo and outside, had now come forward with carefully

Some of these worked-out proposals of their own. proposals addressed concerns that had been raised by the Chinese side. I imagined that their authors might have contact with the Chinese side. I expected that there

The would be more such proposals made in the weeks ahead. Governor was already making it clear that when he put his proposals to LegCo in February he would also draw LegCo's attention to the alternative proposals which had been put forward. This would be the beginning, not the end of a process. We expected to see considerable discussion in

CONFIDENTIAL

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