TNAG-2734-FCO40-3942-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 177

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FM PEKING

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TO DESKBY 23090OZ FCO

TELNO 264

INTS.

OF 230825Z FEBRUARY 93

INFO DESKBY 23090OZ HONG KONG

INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

003752 MDHIAN 0650

SZE'S (SCA, HONG KONG) LETTER OF 23 FEBRUARY TO RICKETTS (HKD): CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: LEGCO QUESTION

1. THE REPLY WHICH EXCO HAVE APPROVED WILL PROBABLY LEAD TO CHINESE COMPLAINTS OF A BLATANT BREACH OF THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF OUR DIPLOMATIC CONTACTS OVER PAST WEEKS (WE HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY CONFIRMED OFFICIALLY, NOR HAVE THE CHINESE ADMITTED, THAT WE ARE ENGAGED IN TALKS ABOUT TALKS). THIS MIGHT PLAY INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE HERE WHO PREFER CONFRONTATION TO CO-OPERATION. MOREOVER THE CHINESE MIGHT CHOOSE TO RESPOND WITH THEIR OWN STATEMENT, WITH WHICH WE MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE ISSUE. A NEW PUBLIC SLANGING MATCH WOULD NOT SERVE OUR INTERESTS.

2. IT WOULD BE SAFER TO SAY SOMETHING ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:

''DIPLOMATIC CONTACTS BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS HAVE CONTINUED OVER RECENT WEEKS. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT WE ARE READY TO TALK AT ANY TIME AND WITHOUT ANY PRECONDITIONS IN AN EFFORT TO REACH AN UNDERSTANDING ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994-95 ELECTIONS. WE HOPE THAT FORMAL TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES CAN SOON BEGIN. IN ORDER TO HELP THIS PROCESS

IMMINENTLY''.

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