TNAG-2770-FCO40-3987-Coverage-of-Sino-British-talks-in-the-Hong-Kong-press-1993 — Page 190

TALKS.

UNCLASSIFIED

121426

MDLIAN 6421

9. A PROMINENT ARTICLE IN TA KUNG PAO NOTED THAT THE UDHK MEMBERS HAD SUDDENLY RAISED THE PROPOSAL ON THE DISCUSSION OF THE BILL YESTERDAY WHEN THEY FOUND THAT THEY WERE THE MAJORITY AT THE MEETING. THE LEGCO PANEL'S DISCUSSION WAS DELIBERATE AND CONFRONTATIONAL MOVE AND WAS A MANIFESTATION OF THE 'THREE LEGGED STOOL' THEORY IN DISGUISE. THE ARTICLE ARGUED THAT UNDER EXISTING PRACTICE, ALL BILLS WERE TABLED IN LEGCO BY HKG WHEN THE TIME WAS RIPE. NOW, A LEGCO PANEL HAD, WITHOUT THE CONSENT AND APPROVAL OF THE EXECUTIVE, SOUGHT TO DISCUSS A BILL, BY-PASSING THE USUAL LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES. THIS HAD RESULTED IN A SITUATION WHERE THE LEGISLATURE WAS NO LONGER CONTROLLED BY THE EXECUTIVE.

SOURCES

10. MING PAO REPORTED THAT A RELIABLE SOURCE HAD CLEARLY TOLD THE PAPER SOME PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE AFTER FOUR ROUNDS OF TALKS. THE PAPER ADDED THAT IT HAD LEARNED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES YESTERDAY THAT HKG WAS NOW ALMOST CERTAIN THAT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES FOR THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS COULD NOT/NOT BE COMPLETED BY 21 JULY.

PATTEN

YYYY

MAIN

65

DISTRIBUTION

72

.HK POLICY

HKD

PUSD

FED

LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT

LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS

LEGAL ADVISERS//MR GILES

NEWS D

NTCD

PLANNERS

RAD

PS

PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES MR HUM

ADDITIONAL

7

CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO) CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES

CAOFF //MR SIBSON

PS NO 10.

Nainly

PAGE

3

UNCLASSIFIED