TNAG-2732-FCO40-3938-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 8

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INCLUDING THEIR OWN SUPPORTERS.

THE DAB HAD PROPOSED ALMOST THE SAME FORMULA AS WE HAD. I SAID THAT CHINESE LEADERS SUCH AS QIAN QICHEN WOULD RECOGNISE THE INADVISABILITY OF CHINA THROWING OUT LIBERAL MEMBERS OF LEGCO AS ITS FIRST ACT IN 1997, WITH THE IMF AND THE WORLD BANK ABOUT TO HOLD THEIR MEETINGS IN THE TERRITORY.

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ASKED WHY THE CHINESE WERE TRYING TO PLAY THE TALKS SO LONG. EHRMAN SAID THEY PROBABLY CONSIDERED THAT THE LONGER THE TALKS CONTINUED THE HARDER IT WOULD BE FOR US TO BREAK THEM OFF. I SAID THAT THEY MIGHT NOT YET HAVE THEIR ACT TOGETHER ON PROPOSALS FOR THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND ELECTION COMMITTEE. BUT HONG KONG HAD TO BE A DISTRACTION FOR THEM WHEN THEY NEEDED TO ATTEND TO SERIOUS QUESTIONS LIKE THEIR OWN ECONOMY AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES. SO WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO INSIST THAT WE WOULD ONLY NEGOTIATE SERIOUSLY WHEN THEY HAD TOLD US ALL THEIR PROPOSALS. THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID THAT THE CHINESE PROBABLY WANTED TO PUSH US THROUGH THE JULY DEADLINE. THEY MIGHT ALSO SEE PRESSURE BUILDING UP ON US IN SEPTEMBER WHEN REAL DEADLINES WOULD APPROACH.

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I SAID THAT I DID NOT WANT TO GET INTO THE SITUATION WE WERE IN ON THE AIRPORT, WHERE WE PUT FORWARD ONE IDEA AFTER ANOTHER ONLY TO HAVE THE CHINESE SHOOT IT DOWN.

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THE SECRETARY FOR

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS EXPLAINED THAT IF THE BEC BILL HAD NOT BEEN PASSED WE WOULD HAVE NEEDED TO PUT ALL THE LEGISLATION TO

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