TNAG-2770-FCO40-3987-Coverage-of-Sino-British-talks-in-the-Hong-Kong-press-1993 — Page 316

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FM HONG KONG

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OF 161049Z MARCH 93

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01 APR 1993

DESK OFFICER INDEX

REGISTRY

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INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

INFO ROUTINE HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK, HKGO SAN FRANCISCO INFO ROUTINE HKGO GENEVA, UKMIS GENEVA

PART ONE OF TWO

HONG KONG FUTURE:/ PRESS COVERAGE: (13.3

SUMMARY

16.3)

1. REACTIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT'S GAZETTAL OF THE ELECTORAL BILL FOR THE 1994/5 ELECTIONS, IN PARTICULAR STRONG CHINESE ATTACKS, FEATURED.

GAZETTAL OF BILL

2~

ALL PAPERS (13.3) LED WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO GAZETTE THE ELECTORAL BILL FOR THE 1994/95. MANY OF THEM CARRIED THE GOVERNOR'S STATEMENT AND THE QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION IN LEGCO. THE GOVERNOR REGRETTED IT HAD SO FAR NOT PROVED POSSIBLE TO RESOLVE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES THAT STOOD IN THE WAY OF TALKS. THE GOVERNOR SAID THE BRITISH SIDE HAD MADE CLEAR SINCE OCTOBER 1992 THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO TALK WITHOUT PRE-CONDITIONS. THE BRITISH SIDE HAD BEEN PREPARED TO TALK ON THE BASIS OF THE JD, THE PRINCIPLE OF CONVERGENCE WITH THE BL AND THE RELEVANT UNDERSTANDINGS AND AGREEMENTS REACHED BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA. ALSO, THE BRITISH SIDE MADE PLAIN THE BRITISH TEAM WOULD INCLUDE THE NECESSARY HK OFFICIALS ON THE SAME BASIS AS OTHER OFFICIALS TAKING PART IN THE TALKS. HK OFFICIALS HAD PARTICIPATED IN PAST DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE AS MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH TEAM, INCLUDING DURING NEGOTIATIONS ON THE JD AND IN THE JLG. THE GOVERNOR DID NOT THINK TRYING TO DIMINISH THE STANDING OF HKG OFFICIALS WOULD BE A VERY HOPEFUL WAY OF COMMENCING TALKS AND COULD NOT SEE HOW THAT DEMONSTRATED SINCERITY OR A COMMITMENT TO MAKE A SUCCESS OF THE TALKS. THE GOVERNOR EMPHASISED THE BRITISH SIDE REMAINED READY TO HOLD TALKS WITHOUT PRE-CONDITIONS.

A STATEMENT BY THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY EXPRESSED (13.3) SHOCK ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO GAZETTE THE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM LEGISLATION THE PREVIOUS DAY. THE

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