TNAG-2732-FCO40-3938-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 201

SECRET

ZCZ C

SECRET

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 19010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO

OF 181506Z MAR 93

INFO 190100OZ PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

DESKBY

YOUR TELNO 435: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSULTATION ON

ECONOMIC ISSUES: THE WAY FORWARD

1.

I agree with the points you are stressing in public.

2. On the way ahead on the constitutional issues, I had a meeting here on 15 March Cour telno 257) at which we reached the broad conclusion that it was worth keeping lines open to those on the Chinese side who seemed (at least in the past) to favour talks with us. Since then, of course, we have had Lu Ping's press conference, which was long on rhetoric but on substance suggested a wish to keep some options for the future open. must expect further assaults while the NPC plays itself out. I doubt that we shall be able to form any very useful view of private thinking on the Chinese side, or on whether there is any remaining chance, however remote, of holding talks, until the NPC

has finished.

We

3.

That seems to me rather a strong argument for not taking a

firm

HONGKONG18.3

HKD

PF RICKETTS

270 2752