UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
UNCLASSIFIED
HKB 301/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
03 AUG 1993
TO PRIORITY FCO
DESK OFFICER INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
TELNO 1186
OF 2010OOZ JULY 93
p.a. Pese Ronely
072212
MDLIAN 6283
TOP COPY
Q DIST?
67
INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG INFO ROUTINE HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK, HKGOL SAN FRANCISCO INFO ROUTINE HKGO GENEVA
PART ONE OF TWO PARTS:
HONG KONG FUTURE: PRESS COVERAGE: (14.7-20.7).
SUMMARY.
1.
SPECULATION CONTINUED ON THE CONTENT/PROGRESS OF THE TALKS ON THE 1994/95 ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS IN THE RUN UP TO THE EIGHTH ROUND OF TALKS COMMENCING THIS WEEK. THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE SAR PREPARATORY COMMITTEE, PRELIMINARY WORKING COMMITTEE AND SPEECHES MADE BY CHINESE LEADERS WERE WIDELY COVERED.
SINO-BRITISH TALKS.
2.
QUOTING CHINESE SOURCES (14.7) THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL REPORTED THE CHINESE SIDE HAD PROPOSED AT THE SEVENTH ROUND THE ELECTION COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE UP OF THE FOUR SECTORS AS STIPULATED IN THE BL. THE CHINESE SIDE SUGGESTED MEMBERS IN THE SECTOR OF FORMER POLITICAL FIGURES, HONG KONG DEPUTIES TO NPC AND CPPCC SHOULD BE SELECTED THROUGH 'DEMOCRATIC CONSULTATION' WHILE CANDIDATES FOR THE OTHER THREE CATEGORIES COULD BE RETURNED THROUGH ELECTIONS. SOURCES CLOSE TO HKG TOLD THE PAPER THAT THE BRITISH SIDE COULD NOT ACCEPT 'DEMOCRATIC CONSULTATION' AS IT WOULD BE IN BREACH OF THE PRINCIPLES OF OPENNESS, FAIRNESS AND ACCEPTABILITY TO HONG KONG. THE SOURCES ALSO DISCLOSED THE BRITISH SIDE FOUND THE ELECTORAL BASE OF THE NINE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES PROPOSED BY THE CHINESE SIDE TOO NARROW AND UNREPRESENTATIVE.
3. SING TAO DAILY (14.7) LEARNED THE ELECTORAL BILL WOULD BE
PUT TO LEGCO IF NO AGREEMENT WAS REACHED BEFORE THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS IN OCTOBER. THE REPORT SAID HKG DID NOT CONSIDER THIS WOULD DEAL A HEAVY BLOW TO HONG KONG AS ECONOMIC GROWTH WAS SUSTAINED DESPITE REPEATED CHINESE CRITICISMS ON THE GOVERNOR'S POLITICAL PACKAGE.
PAGE 1 UNCLASSIFIED
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