TNAG-2770-FCO40-3987-Coverage-of-Sino-British-talks-in-the-Hong-Kong-press-1993 — Page 237

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MDLIAN 62

TWO ROUNDS OF THE TALKS AND IT WAS DOUBTFUL IF THE THIRD ROUND COULD YIELD ANY RESULT. THE REPORT NOTED THAT SIR CHARLES POWELL OF JARDINES MATHESON HAD DINNER WITH CHINESE AMBASSADOR MA YUZHEN LAST EVENING AND SPECULATED THAT MA WOULD RELAY THROUGH SIR CHARLES TO THE BRITISH SIDE THE CHINESE POSITION ON OUR CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION (BEC) BILL

5.

TODAY'S HK COMMERCIAL DAILY NOTED IN ITS EDITORIAL THAT THE BEC BILL WOULD BE DISCUSSED AT THE LEGCO HOUSE COMMITTEE TODAY. IF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BILLS COMMITTEE WERE ENDORSED, THE BILL WOULD SOON BE SUBMITTED TO LEGCO FOR PASSAGE. THE EDITORIAL WARNED THAT THIS WAS ANOTHER ATTEMPT BY US TO ''JUMP START'' ON THE QUESTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THAT LEGCO SHOULD DISCUSS THE MATTER PRUDENTLY.

6.

NOTING THAT THE BILL WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR THE ABOLITION OF APPOINTED MEMBERSHIP AND INCREASE IN DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN DISTRICT BOARDS, THE EDITORIAL SAID THAT IT WOULD MEAN THAT PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S PACKAGE WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO LEGCO BEFORE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED IN THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS. IF LEGCO PASSED THE BEC PROPOSAL BEFORE THE TALKS, IT WOULD ONLY INCREASE THE DIFFICULTY FOR THE TALKS. SUCH ATTEMPT TO PRESSURISE CHINA BY PRESENTING A FAIT ACCOMPLI JUST REFLECTED A LACK OF SINCERITY IN SEEKING CO-OPERATION WITH THE CHINESE AND THE INTENTION TO UNDERMINE THE TALKS.

PATTEN

YYYY

DISTRIBUTION

72

ΜΑΙΝ

65

.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

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