TNAG-2770-FCO40-3987-Coverage-of-Sino-British-talks-in-the-Hong-Kong-press-1993 — Page 165

UNCLASSIFIED

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 975

OF 17095OZ JUNE 93

UNCLASSIFIED

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

TOP COPY Q DIST?

p.a. Press moundary

165106

MDHIAN 526539

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PRESS REPORTS.

GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO LONDON.

1.

THE PAPERS REPORTED PROMINENTLY THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO LONDON FROM 30 JUNE TO 2 JULY. MANY PAPERS QUOTED SOURCES AS SAYING THAT THE HMG WAS ANXIOUS ABOUT LACK OF PROGRESS IN THE TALKS, AND THE FORTHCOMING VISIT WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT 'DECISION MAKING MEETING' ON FUTURE STRATEGY AND WHETHER A DEADLINE FOR THE TALKS SHOULD BE SET. ATV QUOTED SOURCES AS SAYING THAT THE VISIT WAS NOT A REGULAR ONE BUT HAD JUST BEEN DECIDED UPON. IT WAS BELIEVED THAT TALKS WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL THIS AUTUMN BEFORE A DECISION WOULD BE MADE ON WHETHER TO TABLE THE ELECTORAL BILLS IN LEGCO REGARDLESS OF CHINESE OBJECTION.

2.

MING PAO QUOTED AN INFORMED SOURCE AS INDICATING WORRY THAT BRITAIN WOULD TRADE HONG KONG'S DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT FOR ECONOMIC BENEFITS. THE SAME ARTICLE HOWEVER NOTED THAT AN FCO OFFICIAL SAID THE BRITISH LEADERSHIP WAS FIRMLY IN SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS. SCMP QUOTED SOURCES AS DISMISSING THE SUGGESTION THAT THE GOVERNOR MIGHT USE THE LONDON VISIT TO PREPARE FOR A RETREAT. ORIENTAL DAILY REPORTED THAT THERE WAS AN IDEA CIRCULATING IN THE CABINET THAT SINCE THE CHINESE WERE NOT GENUINELY INTERESTED IN REACHING AGREEMENT ON THE ELECTIONS, A SHOCK SHOULD BE GENERATED TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK. THE REPORT TOOK THE VISIT AS A WARNING THAT THE BRITISH SIDE WOULD RATHER WITHDRAW FROM THE TALKS THAN DRAGGING ON

INDEFINITELY.

3.

REACTION FROM THE POLITICAL CIRCLE WAS MIXED. DAB CHAIRMAN TSANG YOK-SING CRITICISED THE VISIT AS AN ATTEMPT TO PUT PRESSURE ON CHINA. LIBERAL LEGISLATORS YEUNG SUM AND EMILY LAU URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO TABLE THE ELECTORAL BILLS A.S.A.P. SOME SPECULATED ON THE MOTIVES OF THE TRIP WHILST OTHERS CALLED UPON THE GOVERNOR TO CLARIFY WHETHER BRITAIN WOULD CHANGE HER STRATEGY IN THE TALKS.

TALKS.

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18 Ju. 1993

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