TNAG-2733-FCO40-3939-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 89

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1451

OF 090741Z SEPTEMBER 93

AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG

PN R. Constit. Dept

(Futine)

034544

MDHIAN 4368

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: ROLE OF PRELIMINARY WORKING COMMITTEE

(PWC)

1. ALL UNNAMED CHINESE SOURCES QUOTED BY THE VARIOUS NEWSPAPERS TODAY

(9.9) EXPRESSED PESSIMISM OVER THE OUTCOME OF THE TALKS.

2. SING TAO DAILY TODAY (9.9) REPORTED THAT ACCORDING TO ITS UNDERSTANDING THE CHINESE SIDE HAD CONSULTED HONG KONG AFFAIRS

ADVISERS BEFORE ESTABLISHING THE SARPC PWC. THE CHINESE WERE CONVINCED AFTER THE CONSULTATIONS THAT WHILE THEY SHOULD TRY THEIR BEST IN NEGOTIATING WITH THE BRITISH SIDE, CHANCES OF THE TALKS BREAKING DOWN WERE HIGH AND THEY SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE WORST.

THE SARPC PWC SHOULD THEREFORE WORK SERIOUSLY TO PREPARE FOR THE SETTING UP OF A 'SECOND STOVE' AFTER 1997.

3. THE PRO-LEFT HK COMMERCIAL DAILY IN THE COMMENTARY TODAY (9.9) CAUGHT ON TO THE SAME THEME AND POINTED OUT THAT AS THE BRITISH SIDE WERE PRETENDING TO TALK WHILE ACTUALLY PUTTING UP A FIGHT', THERE WAS NO REASON WHY THE CHINESE SIDE SHOULD NOT ACCELERATE THE PACE OF WORK OF THE PWC WHILE CONTINUING THE ROUNDS OF TALKS.

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