TNAG-2767-FCO40-3984-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 146

STATEMENT BY FCO NEWS DEPARTMENT: 4 MARCH: HONG KONG

The Governor has said that he will be making a full statement

to the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on 5 March about the

position reached on discussions with the Chinese side over electoral arrangements in Hong Kong.

But there are a number of misunderstandings in this morning's Times editorial which need to be corrected immediately:

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There is no question of the Governor or the Legislative Council being cut out of decisions about the way Hong Kong is governed.

The Governor and the Executive Council have been, and

will continue to be, fully involved in the development of policy on the political development of Hong Kong. That includes policy for the talks which we hope will get underway soon with the Chinese side.

The Legislative Council have the responsibility to enact legislation on the arrangements for the 1994 and 1995 elections in Hong Kong. We have said that if we reach

any understanding in talks with the Chinese side, we

would recommend that to the Legislative Council. But it will be their decision, and the Foreign Secretary has made clear that we will respect that decision.