UNCLASSIFIED
p.a. Pledis/Praes
وم
020430
MDHIAN 9185
16
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
HKB 301/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
6 MAY 1993
REGISTRY
TOP COPY QDIST?
DESK OFFICER
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
INDEX
PA
Action Take!
TELNO 668
OF 300949Z APRIL
3
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TALKS ON 1994/95 ELECTIONS PRESS REPORTS
PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT
1.
THE PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE THIRD ROUND OF THE TALKS WAS PROMINENTLY COVERED TODAY (30 APRIL). ALSO WIDELY NOTED WERE THE AMBASSADOR'S REMARKS THAT THE ANNOUNCED DATES WERE THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE ONES PUT FORWARD BY THE CHINESE SIDE.
SOURCES
2. REPORTING FROM LONDON, JOHN ELLISON OF ORIENTAL DAILY NEWS QUOTED SOURCES ''WHO UNDERSTOOD THE CHINESE THINKING IN THE TALKS'' AS WARNING THE BRITISH SIDE THAT THE PATTEN PACKAGE COULD IN NO WAY BE THE STARTING POSITION FOR THE TALKS AND THAT THE CHINESE SIDE WOULD NOT GIVE A GUARANTEE THAT ALL 1995 LEGCO MEMBERS COULD STRADDLE 1997. THE SOURCES SAID THE CHINESE SIDE
HAD MADE THREE REQUESTS IN THE TALKS :
(I) THE PATTEN PACKAGE COULD NOT BE THE BASIS FOR TALKS:
(II) THE NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR WERE DIRECT ELECTIONS IN DISGUISE AND THEREFORE COULD
NOT BE THE STARTING POSITION FOR THE TALKS:
(III) THE BRITISH SIDE MUST ABIDE BY THE COMMITMENT MADE BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN 1990 THAT THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY
ELECTED SEATS SHOULD NOT EXCEED 20.
3.
WAH KIU YAT PO UNDERSTOOD THAT BOTH SIDES HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO REACH A CONSENSUS OVER THE PRINCIPLES FOR NEGOTIATIONS IN THE FIRST TWO ROUND OF TALKS. BOTH CHINESE AND BRITISH SOURCES WERE QUOTED BY THE PAPER AS SAYING THAT THEY DID NOT EXPECT PROBLEMS COULD BE RESOLVED IN THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS AS THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT.
4.
SCMP POST SAID A LOCALLY-BASED CHINESE OFFICIAL CRITICISED
1
PAGE UNCLASSIFIED
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