UNCLASSIFIED
072212 MDLIAN 6283
THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY AND THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER, WOULD MAKE MORE PROGRESS.
12. THE PAPERS CARRIED A SIGNED COMMENTARY (20.7) ISSUED BY THE
CHINA NEWS AGENCY ON THE EVE OF THE EIGHTH ROUND. THE ARTICLE SAID AS LONG AS THE TWO SIDES COULD STICK TO THE 'THREE CONFORMITIES' AND FOCUS THEIR DISCUSSIONS ON THE 1994/95 ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS, THE TALKS WOULD MAKE QUICKER PROGRESS AND THERE WOULD BE LITTLE DIFFICULTY IN REACHING AN AGREEMENT. IT WARNED IF DEMANDS INVOLVING CHINA'S SOVEREIGNTY SUCH AS TO ALLOW THE BRITISH TO HAVE A ROLE IN THE SARPC OR NEGOTIATIONS WERE RAISED, THE NEGOTIATIONS WOULD INEVITABLY ENTER AN IMPASSE.
13.
MING PAO (20.7) UNDERSTOOD THE CHINESE SIDE HOPED TO APPLY THE CONCEPT OF FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES TO THE ELECTION COMMITTEE. QUOTING INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM OTHER SOURCES, THE PAPER SAID THE CHINESE SIDE BELIEVED THE ELECTION COMMITTEE SHOULD BE FORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH BL STIPULATIONS. IN ANOTHER REPORT, MING PAO SAID CHINESE OFFICIALS HAD IN PRIVATE ADMITTED THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT HAD BROUGHT SOME POSITIVE MESSAGES AND EXPECTED THERE WOULD BE PROGRESS AT THE TALKS BEFORE LONG.
ENDS PART ONE OF TWO PARTS.
PATTEN
YYYY
MAIN
.HK POLICY
65
DISTRIBUTION
72
NTCD
HKD
PUSD
FED
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS
LEGAL ADVISERS//MR GILES NEWS D
PLANNERS
RAD
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
MR HUM
ADDITIONAL
7
PAGE 4 UNCLASSIFIED
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