TNAG-2770-FCO40-3987-Coverage-of-Sino-British-talks-in-the-Hong-Kong-press-1993 — Page 112

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FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1065

OF 01060OZ JULY 93

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TOP COPY Q DIST?

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

p.a. Press Roundups

022233 MDHIAN 71158

HKB 301/2

RECEIVED INISTRY

07 JUL 1993

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DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

INDEX

PA

Avon Taken

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PRESS REPORTS.

CABINET MEETING.

1.

THE LOCAL PRESS GAVE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE TO THE REMARKS MADE BY THE GOVERNOR ON 29 JUNE BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE FOR LONDON. THE GOVERNOR WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT WHILE HE DID NOT WISH TO USE THE SETTING OF A DEADLINE AS NEGOTIATING TACTICS, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE TALKS COULD NOT GO ON INDEFINITELY. THE BRITISH SIDE WOULD PURSUE THE THROUGH TRAIN AS AN OBJECTIVES IN THE TALKS: DISCUSSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS DURING TRANSITION MUST ENSURE THAT THERE WERE OBJECTIVE CRITERIA FOR THE ELIGIBILITY OF LEGISLATORS. THE GOVERNOR ALSO BELIEVED THAT THE CABINET AND SENIOR BRITISH OFFICIALS WOULD ACCEPT EXCO'S AGREED POSITION ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL TALKS.

2. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE TIMES, THE GOVERNOR WAS QUOTED AS

SAYING THAT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO MAKE CONCESSIONS ON THE FC ELECTIONS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS FROM 2.8 MILLION UNDER THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL TO 0.5 MILLION.

3. THE PAPERS GENERALLY EXPECTED THAT A CUT-OFF DATE WOULD BE SET

FOR THE TALKS AND A BOTTOM LINE WOULD BE AGREED FOR THE NEGOTIATION. SING TAO DAILY PREDICTED THAT BRITAIN WOULD SET AN INTERNAL DEADLINE, AND MAINTAIN FLEXIBILITY TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE PROGRESS OF THE TALKS AND PUBLIC VIEWS. THE ORIENTAL DAILY REPORTED THAT THE CABINET WOULD DISCUSS A PAPER PREPARED BY THE S OF S, WHICH SUGGESTED THAT THE TALKS BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE UNTIL SEPTEMBER, WHEN THE SITUATION SHOULD BE REVIEWED. SOME PAPERS QUOTED THE ASSESSMENT OF A COMMENTARY IN THE 29 JUNE ISSUE OF THE TIMES, WHICH SAID THAT BRITAIN CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR IN INTRODUCING GREATER DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG AND HAD REACHED THE END OF HER PATIENCE. A COMMENTARY IN THE ORIENTAL DAILY SUSPECTED THAT RECENT TALKS OF A HARDENING BRITISH STANCE HAD BEEN 'MANUFACTURED': BRITAIN WOULD STILL STRIVE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH CHINA IN THE INTEREST OF LONG-TERM SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS.

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