UNCLASSIFIED
612
MDLIAN 3325
(VI) WU ALSO CONTENDED THAT THE GOVERNOR'S REMARKS SHOWED THAT HE STILL DID NOT WANT TO RESOLVE ISSUES THROUGH NEGOTIATION. INSTEAD HE WANTED ON THE ONE HAND TO SHIFT THE BLAME FOR THE DELAY IN THE TALKS TO THE CHINESE, AND TO BUY TIME ON THE OTHER SO THAT HE COULD GO AHEAD UNILATERALLY ON ISSUES LIKE AMENDING HONG KONG LAWS ACCORDING TO HIS OWN WISHES, ALLOCATING FUNDS TO THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECT AND RELEASING DEFENCE LANDS.
JLG AND AIRPORT.
2.
TODAY'S PRESS REPORTS WIDELY QUOTED LU PING AS SAYING DURING HIS VISIT TO MACAU THAT THE JLG HAD TO MEET SOONER OR LATER. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE THAT THE JLG WOULD NOT MEET. BUT THE DATE WAS NOT YET CERTAIN AT PRESENT. BOTH SIDES NOW NEEDED TO DISCUSS THE
AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
3. MING PAO TODAY QUOTED CHINESE OFFICIAL SOURCES AS SAYING THAT THE RESUMPTION OF JLG AND AIRPORT COMMITTEE MEETINGS HINGED MAINLY ON THE FORTHCOMING THIRD ROUND OF TALKS. IF PROGRESS WAS MADE IN THE THIRD ROUND, BOTH THE JLG AND AC WOULD RECONVENE THEIR MEETINGS.
CIVIL SERVANTS.
4.
LU PING WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT CHINA'S POSITION ON HONG
KONG'S CIVIL SERVANTS WAS CONSISTENT AND WOULD NOT CHANGE. THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF REPRISAL AFTER 1997. IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS ON CHINESE POSITION ON SENIOR HKG OFFICIALS 'WHO WERE IN SENSITIVE POSTS PROMOTING VIGOROUSLY THE GOVERNOR'S PACKAGE', LU SAID THAT THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAD TO CARRY OUT THEIR
DUTIES. THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM IF THEY ACTED ACCORDING TO LAW. CIVIL SERVANTS, INCLUDING THE POLICE, COULD OF COURSE CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES ACCORDING TO LAW AFTER 1997.
NEW AIRPORT.
5. WAH KIU YAT PO REPORTED ON 16 MAY THAT THE CHINESE SIDE HAD RECENTLY HINTED TO US THROUGH DIFFERENT CHANNELS THE USE OF RESERVES IN ORDER TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS OVER THE CONTINGENT LIABILITIES FOR THE NEW AIRPORT. THE PAPER UNDERSTOOD THAT THE CHINESE SIDE HAD COME UP WITH THIS IDEA, HAVING NOTED THAT ACCORDING TO HKG ESTIMATES, OVER 78 BILLION DOLLARS OF RESERVES WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCUMULATED BY 1997. THE CHANGE OF THE CHINESE
2
PAGE UNCLASSIFIED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.