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151035 MDLIAN 6233 {
JOINT STATEMENT OF DB MEMBERS
23. PAPERS (7.4) REPORTED THAT 131 DB MEMBERS HAD ISSUED JOINT STATEMENTS CALLING ON THE GOVERNOR TO SHOW SINCERITY TO ENABLE TALKS TO REOPEN. ACCORDING TO THESE REPORTS THE JOINT STATEMENT WOULD BE SENT TO THE PRIME MINISTER, SECRETARY OF STATE AND ALL MP'S. THE DB MEMBERS URGED THE GOVERNOR NOT TO INTRODUCE THE BILL TO LEGCO. LEGCO SHOULD BEGIN EXAMINING THE BILL ONLY AFTER THE TWO GOVERNMENTS HAD REACHED AGREEMENT THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS. THEY ALSO MAINTAINED THAT DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATIONS WERE A MATTER FOR THE TWO SOVEREIGN STATES. IT WAS IMPROPER FOR THE GOVERNOR TO INSIST ON PARTICIPATION OF HKG OFFICIALS AS FULL MEMBERS.
US COMMENTS
24.
MANY PAPERS REPORTED (1.4) THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAD FOR THE FIRST TIME DECLARED SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNOR'S REFORM PACKAGE. US SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE US SUPPORTED MORE DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG WHILE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE WINSTON LORD WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE US SUPPORTED THE REFORM BUT WOULD NOT STEP INTO THE CONTROVERSY AMONG CHINA, BRITISH AND HONG KONG. MR LORD ADDED THAT THE US HAD LARGE HUMANITARIAN AND BUSINESS STAKES IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND WOULD BUILD ITS RELATIONS WITH HONG KONG THROUGH THE NEW US-HONG KONG POLICY ACT.
25.
THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL (2.4) QUOTED AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES AS SAYING THAT THE US GOVERNMENT HAD PASSED A MESSAGE TO CHINA THROUGH HIGH LEVEL DIPLOMATIC TALKS URGING THE CHINESE SIDE TO RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE AND DISCUSS WITH BRITAIN HONG KONG'S POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT. IF THE SINO-BRITISH ROW DETERIORATES THE US MIGHT BE FORCED TO INTERVENE AND TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT ITS INTERESTS IN HONG KONG.
26. PAPERS (7.4) QUOTED SENIOR US ADVISER ON CHINA ROBERT SUTTER AS SAYING THAT THE US SENATE HAD REITERATED ITS SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNOR'S REFORM PACKAGE BUT THAT THE US HAD NOT INTENTION OF INTERVENING IN THE SINO-BRITISH ROW. HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD RECEIVE A WARM RECEPTION WHEN HE VISITED THE US IN A FEW WEEKS TIME.
SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER
27. SOME PAPERS (7.4) NOTED THAT THE VISITING SWEDISH PRIME
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