TNAG-2732-FCO40-3938-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 88

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MOHOAN 1643

(vi) CHINESE TO SET UP WORKING GROUP TO MAKE PREPARATIONS POST-1997 HONG KONG (SEPARATE STOVE OR KITCHEN)

Chinese Leaders say they will abide by the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. That is the key point.

Under the Joint Declaration, Britain is responsible for administering Hong Kong up to July 1997.

BACKGROUND

4 The Governor of Hong Kong set out his proposals for the 1994/95 electoral arrangements last October (see telno Guidance 37 of .6 October 1992). They were well received in Hong Kong, but the reaction of the Chinese Government was extremely hostile. At first the Chinese insisted the Governor should withdraw his proposals and refused to discuss them or to suggest any alternative ideas. They have claimed that the proposals contravene the Joint Declaration, the Basic Law and agreements reached between the British and Chinese Governments in early 1990. We do not accept those claims. We made it clear, from the outset, that we were ready to discuss the Governor's proposals with China without preconditions, with the aim of reaching an understanding. We also told the Chinese side that we would need to have Legislation in place in good time to ensure that the 1994/95 elections were conducted in an orderly way. The Governor has made clear publicly that he wishes to have the Legislation in place by the end of LegCo's present session (July).

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