TNAG-2732-FCO40-3938-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 86

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PA

Action Taken

TO IMMEDIATE GUIDANCE TELNO 7

Q DIST?

OF 141747Z APRIL 93

AND TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, EC POSTS, TOKYO, OTTAWA AND TO IMMEDIATE CANBERRA, WELLINGTON, NEW DELHI

AND TO IMMEDIATE ISLAMABAD, MANILA, SINGAPORE

AND TO IMMEDIATE KUALA LUMPUR, BANGKOK, SEOUL, JAKARTA

AND TO IMMEDIATE BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, MOSCOW

AND TO IMMEDIATE UKMIS NEW YORK, HOLY SEE, GIBRALTAR

AND TO IMMEDIATE UKDEL STRASBOURG

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, PEKING

INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

HONG KONG: TALKS WITH CHINA ABOUT ELECTORAL

ARRANGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

1.

We and the Chinese Government announced on 13 April agreement to hold talks about the 1994/95 electoral arrangements in Hong Kong. The talks will begin in Peking on 22 April. The text of the announcement is in MIFT.

LINE TO TAKE

2(i)

(ii)

(iii)

We fully support the approach which the Governor of Hong Kong is taking to the question of broadening democracy in Hong Kong. He announced his proposals last October. From the outset the Governor and we said that we wanted to discuss them with China.

We welcome the fact that talks can now get underway. Our aim will be to reach an understanding with China on arrangements to ensure that the elections will be fair, open and acceptable to the people of Hong Kong.

If we do reach an understanding with China, the British and Hong Kong Governments will recommend this to the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. It will be for them to pass the necessary Legislation.

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3(1) WHICH SIDE CLIMBED DOWN?

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