TNAG-2732-FCO40-3938-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 190

CONFIDENTIAL

FROM:

DATE:

CC:

PF Ricketts

Hong Kong Department

26 March 1993

PS/PUS

Sir J Coles

Mr Davies, FED

Mr Wye, RAD

Mr Hum

PS/Mr Goodlad

Private Secretary

HKB

012/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

DESK OFFICER INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

(91

HONG KONG:

UP-DATE

1. The National People's Congress in Peking is due to end on 31 March. As the final stage approaches, the tone of statements by official Chinese spokesmen has moderated and indications are emerging of what the final decisions will be. The events in Peking have had a noticeable influence on Hong Kong opinion and are also beginning to affect British commercial interests.

Chinese Views

2.

After the belligerent noises at the start of the NPC, there have been some signs of a cooling of tempers. Statements by official spokesmen have become more measured, including Qian's press conference on 24 March (despite some sensational reporting in the British press). Jiang Zemin (who will become President of China) has been noticeably calm. He said on 20 March that the Chinese side were willing to talk to the British side, but would not barter with their principles. He is reported to have taken a similar line with Guangdong NPC delegates on 24 March: on that occasion he apparently did not touch on the current dispute. Lu Ping said on 22 March that introduction of the proposals into LegCo would definitely make talks impossible. Lu Ping is reported today to have said conciliatory things about hoping that the airport can be completed by 1997, and the need for a JLG meeting.

hum26.3update/MINUTES

CONFIDENTIAL