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MDHOAN 6879
(II) WHEN LU PING MET REPRESENTATIVES OF ONE OF HONG KONG'S PRO-CHINA PARTIES ON 22 DECEMBER, HE TOLD THEM THAT CHINA DID NOT INTEND TO SET UP A SECOND CENTRE OF POWER OR SHADOW GOVERNMENT, EVEN IF LEGCO PASSED THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS UNAMENDED. HE ALSO MADE A NUMBER OF OTHER COMMENTS WHICH WERE CLEARLY
DESIGNED TO SOUND MORE CONCILIATORY.
(III) AGAINST EXPECTATIONS, THE MEETING
OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS
STANDING COMMITTEE DID NOT ANNOUNCE ANY DECISIONS ON HONG KONG.
(IV) IN AN INTERVIEW WITH HONG KONG TV ON 3 JANUARY LU PING RULED OUT A NUMBER OF THE MORE EXTREME OPTIONS: THE CHINESE WOULD STICK TO THE JOINT DECLARATION WHATEVER THE STATE OF SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS: THERE WOULD BE NO SHADOW GOVERNMENT: AND CONTRACTS AND FRANCHISES WOULD CONTINUE TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP. LU PING ADDED THAT THE CHINESE WERE PREPARED TO SET UP AN ADVISORY
BODY TO PREPARE THE POST-1997 GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATURE, BUT HAD NOT YET DONE SO.
IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT HAS PRODUCED THIS MODERATION OF THE
CHINESE PUBLIC LINE. THEY MAY HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY HAVE SAID ENOUGH FOR THE MOMENT AND ARE BIDING THEIR TIME. THEY ALSO SEEM TO HAVE REALISED THAT LEGCO'S CONSIDERATION OF THE GOVERNOR'S
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