TNAG-2734-FCO40-3942-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 67

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FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 468

OF 240857Z MARCH 1993

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INDER

PA

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG HONG KONG

DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE: LEGCO QUESTION

THE HON HENRY TANG HAS PUT DOWN THE FOLLOWING QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY AT THE LEGCO SITTING ON 31 MARCH :

'FOLLOWING THE GAZETTING OF THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS BILL 1993 ON 12.3.93, THE SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS HAVE DETERIORATED AND BOTH SIDE HAVE ISSUED STATEMENTS AS TO HOW THE NEGOTIATIONS ON TALKS HAVE BEEN HANDLED. TO ALLOW HONG KONG PEOPLE TO HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE OF THE WHOLE MATTER, WILL THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDER RELEASING TO THE PUBLIC THE DIPLOMATIC EXCHANGES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES? IF YES, WHEN WILL THEY BE RELEASED? IF NOT, PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY THE SEVEN LETTERS EXCHANGED BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES ON 1990 ON THE ELECTION ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1995 CAN BE RELEASED?'

2. WE PROPOSE TO REPLY ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINE :

'AT THE SPECIAL LEGCO SITTING ON 21 MARCH 1993, THE GOVERNOR MADE CLEAR THE BRITISH SIDE'S POSITION AND EFFORTS IN EXPLORING WHETHER A FIRM AND PRODUCTIVE BASIS COULD BE FOUND TO HOLD FORMAL TALKS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON THE 1994-95 ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS I HONG KONG. IT IS NOT NORMAL PRACTICE TO DISCLOSE CONFIDENTIAL DIPLOMATIC EXCHANGES BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS, WHICH IN ANY CASE NORMALLY CONSIST OF ORAL EXCHANGES RATHER THAN WRITTEN MESSAGES.

THE SEVEN MESSAGES EXCHANGED BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENTS IN 1990 WERE MADE PUBLIC IN 1992 AFTER A SPECIFIC AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES TO DO SO."

3. UKREP IS CONTENT WITH THE REPLY. YOU AND PEKING MAY HAVE.

PATTEN

GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS

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