TNAG-2734-FCO40-3942-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 168

3.2. BEIJING CRYPTEK

WED 03 MAR 93 19:66

PG.02

SECRET

'A'

DRAFT STATEMENT TO LEGCO

(in the event of no substantive PRC

response on talks)

1 I have a significant announcement to make this

afternoon.

I felt it right to make it to Honourable Members

of this Council.

n.

a19

As Honourable Members will know, diplomatic contacts

continued in recent weeks in Peking. For our part, our has been to explore whether a firm and productive basis

could be found for the 2 sides to enter formal talks on the

arrangements for the 1994/95 elections. In announcing last.

week that the Bill embodying those arrangements would not be put lished on 26 February, the Government promised to set out the reasons for the delay. I would like to explain to

Honourable Members this afternoon where we now stand.

1

3. Since my policy Address last October, we have

consistently made clear that we are ready to talk at any tim and without any pre-condition in an effort to reach an

ترف

understanding with the Chinese side on these electoral

arr ingements. After Exco endorsed the legislation containin my proposals on 2 February passed to the Chinese on"

ail

( bubrúsky a copy of the draft-Bill approved by EXCO Cover all the angements for the 1994/95 elections (except thos

cont ained if the Boundariessend Election Commission Bill

WC

ofthen-eat

ngnes

no explainG

gar

time

e forma

raging response from