TNAG-2735-FCO40-3943-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 133

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DISCUSSIONS IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PANEL OF THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

1. THE PRESS ARE CARRYING THIS AFTERNOON A STATEMENT PUT OUT BY

THE CHINESE MFA SPOKESMAN ON DISCUSSIONS IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PANEL OF LEGCO. AS RECEIVED IT READS:

'WHILE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS ARE UNDERTAKING TALKS ON THE 1994/95 ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS IN HONG KONG ON THE BASIS OF THE 'THREE COMPLIANCES', THE HONG KONG BRITISH AUTHORITIES HAVE ENCOURAGED THE HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO BEGIN DISCUSSING THE POLITICAL PACKAGE OF THE GOVERNOR ON 31 MAY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME SINCE 26 MAY, WHEN LEGCO ENDORSED THE BILL TO ESTABLISH THE BEC, THAT THE HONG KONG BRITISH AUTHORITIES HAVE ATTEMPTED TO INTERFERE AND DAMAGE THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS. THE CHINESE SIDE EXPRESS STRONG DISSATISFACTION WITH THIS. THE CHINESE SIDE IS SINCERE IN THE CURRENT SINO-BRITISH TALKS AND HAS UNDERTAKEN A SERIES OF POSITIVE ACTIONS TO RESUME THE CO-OPERATION OF BOTH SIDES ON HONG KONG ISSUES. HOWEVER THE BRITISH SIDE HAS REPEATEDLY ENCOURAGED

AND SUPPORTED THE HONG KONG BRITISH AUTHORITIES TO CREATE DIFFICULTIES AND OBSTACLES TO THE ON-GOING SINO-BRITISH TALKS. THE CHINESE SIDE HAS MADE A REPRESENTATION TO THE BRITISH SIDE TO STOP IMMEDIATELY ALL INTERFERENCE AND WORDS AND ACTIONS WHICH DAMAGE THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS.'

2. IN REPLY WE HAVE PUT OUT THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ON THE

RECORD:

'IN ANSWER TO QUESTIONS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPRESSED SURPRISE AT THE STATEMENT BY THE SPOKESMAN OF THE CHINESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. HE SAID: 'THE CHINESE SIDE ARE AWARE THAT BOTH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND ITS CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PANEL HAVE DISCUSSED CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG ON MANY OCCASIONS IN THE PAST. LEGCO PANELS ARE NON-

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