TNAG-2770-FCO40-3987-Coverage-of-Sino-British-talks-in-the-Hong-Kong-press-1993 — Page 149

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SCMP HOWEVER, QUOTED A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN AS DENYING THAT THE BRITISH SIDE HAD DROPPED THEIR PROPOSALS ON FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS.

9. COMMERCIAL RADIO AND SING PAO QUOTED (16.6) SOURCES AS SAYING WHILE THE CHINESE SIDE MAINTAINED THAT LEGCO MEMBERS ELECTED IN 1995 SHOULD BE CONFIRMED BY THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE TO BE SET UP IN 1996 BEFORE THEY COULD RIDE THE TRAIN, THE BRITISH SIDE HOPED TO DISCUSS CRITERIA FOR CONFIRMATION. ALSO, IN THE LAST ROUND OF TALKS, THE BRITISH SIDE HAD SUGGESTED THE ELECTION COMMITTEE MIGHT BE FORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHINESE SIDE'S SUGGESTIONS, PROVIDED THAT BRITISH MEMBERS COULD JOIN THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE FORMATION OF THE FIRST SAR GOVERNMENT AND LEGCO. THE CHINESE SIDE WERE SAID TO HAVE REJECTED THIS SUGGESTION ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT WOULD MEAN INTERFERENCE IN CHINA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

10. QUOTING SOURCES (16.6) THE UNITED DAILY NEWS SAID THE CHINESE diculous

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SIDE HAD ASKED THE BRITISH SIDE TO MAKE CLEAR THEIR STAND ON THE ISSUE OF SINCERITY. THE SOURCES ALSO SAID THAT SO FAR ON MAJOR Kong to discuss ISSUES LIKE THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS AND THE FORMATION OF THE ELECTION COMMITTEE, BOTH SIDES HAD NOT REACHED CONSENSUS, AND THE GAP ON THE ISSUE OF THROUGH TRAIN' REMAINED WIDE.

11. ATV-HOME AND SING PAO (16.6) QUOTED SOURCES CLOSE TO THE BRITISH SIDE AS SAYING IN THE PAST FOUR ROUNDS OF TALKS, BOTH SIDES HAD NOT DISCUSSED CONCRETE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS. THE BRITISH SIDE HAD ALL ALONG AIMED AT RESOLVING MATTERS OF PRINCIPLES BEFORE GOING INTO CONCRETE MATTERS. HOWEVER, THE TWO SIDES WERE UNABLE TO REACH A CONSENSUS ON MATTERS SUCH AS 'THROUGH TRAIN'. IN THE FIFTH ROUND, THE CHINESE SIDE HAD INSISTED THAT THE ISSUE OF THROUGH TRAIN WAS STIPULATED IN THE BL AND HAD REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE. THE CHINESE SIDE HAD STILL NOT PUT FORWARD ANY COUNTER-PROPOSAL TO THE GOVERNOR'S POLITICAL REFORM PACKAGE.

12.

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QUOTING CHINESE SOURCES (17.6), ORIENTAL DAILY SAID THE BRITISH SIDE HAD BASICALLY AGREED IN THE FIRST THREE ROUNDS THE CHINESE SIDE COULD EXERCISE TICKET INSPECTION AS LONG AS ACCEPTABLE OBJECTIVE CRITERIA COULD BE DRAWN UP. HOWEVER, THE BRITISH SIDE CHANGED THEIR STANCE AT THE FORTH ROUND INSISTING ON A COMPLETE THROUGH TRAIN. THE CHINESE SIDE CONSIDERED TICKET INSPECTION TO BE AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE AND WOULD NOT EASILY CONCEDE UNLESS SATISFACTORY AGREEMENTS COULD BE REACHED ON OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES. SOURCES SAID IF THE BRITISH SIDE DID NOT CHANGE THEIR

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