TNAG-2770-FCO40-3987-Coverage-of-Sino-British-talks-in-the-Hong-Kong-press-1993 — Page 113

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4.

MANY PAPERS CARRIED THE SUMMARY OF AN ARTICLE IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE BAUHINIA MAGAZINE WHICH ACCUSED THE BRITISH SIDE FOR TRYING TO PUT PRESSURE ON CHINA BY DISCLOSING THROUGH THE MEDIA, BEFORE THE SIXTH ROUND OF TALKS, THAT A CABINET MEETING WOULD BE HELD AND THAT BRITISH OFFICIALS WERE LOSING. THEIR PATIENCE. THE ARTICLE WARNED THAT IF BRITAIN DID NOT RETURN TO THE PATH OF THE THREE CONFORMITIES, ULTIMATELY THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AND BRITAIN WOULD BE HARMED.

5.

SING PAO SUSPECTED THAT SCA'S PARTICIPATION IN THE GOVERNOR'S TRIP WAS ANOTHER PETTY TRICK OF THE BRITISH SIDE:THE BRITISH SIDE HAD INSISTED THAT SCA'S PARTICIPATION IN THE TALKS WAS A RESULT OF CHINESE CONCESSION. ACCORDING TO THE HONG KONG COMMERCIAL DAILY, THE GOVERNOR HOPED THAT SCA AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE COULD COUNTER THE INFLUENCE OF SIR ROBIN MCLAREN, WHO LIKE FCO EXPERTS ON CHINA HAD ADVOCATED RESOLVING PROBLEMS THROUGH NEGOTIATION WITH CHINA.

TALKS.

6. QUOTING BRITISH SOURCES, MING PAO REPORTED THAT THE CHINESE SIDE HAD TABLED PROPOSALS ON ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS AT THE SIXTH ROUND, AND DISCUSSIONS HAD ENTERED THE SAGE OF BARGAINING ON SPECIFIC ISSUES. THE SOURCES SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD CONSULT THE CABINET ON THE CHINESE PROPOSALS, AND THE BRITISH SIDE WOULD CONSIDER HOW TO AMEND_THE_GOVERNOR'S CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE IN ORDER TO REACH AN EARLY AGREEMENT. ACCORDING TO BRITISH SOURCES, PROGRESS WAS MADE AT THE TALKS ON THE BASIS OF CONCESSIONS FROM BOTH SIDES, BUT THERE WAS STILL A DISTANCE FROM AN OVERALL AGREEMENT.

MING PAO ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT IN THE SUMMER OF 1992, XU ZE OF THE SECOND DEPARTMENT OF THE HKMAO/STATE COUNCIL HAD LED A DELEGATION TO HONG KONG TO COLLECT VIEWS ON POLITICAL REFORM, AND HAD PREPARED A PACKAGE FOR DISCUSSION AT JLG. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GOVERNOR'S POLITICAL PACKAGE HAD DISRUPTED THE CHINESE PLAN. THE PRESENT ELECTORAL PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD BY THE CHINESE SIDE WERE NOT IDENTICAL TO THE PREVIOUS ONE BECAUSE THE SITUATION HAD

CHANGED.

8.

COMMENTARIES IN THE LEFT-WING PRESS CONTINUED TO ATTACK THE GOVERNOR FOR LEAKING THE 'FOUR UNREASONABLE DEMANDS' IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHIFT TO THE CHINESE SIDE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF IMPASSE AT THE

TALKS.

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