TNAG-2771-FCO40-3988-Coverage-of-Sino-British-talks-in-the-Hong-Kong-press-1993 — Page 14

UNCLASSIFIED

127104

MDLIAN 4175

jeopardising the talks and making it impossible for the two sides to reach a first-stage agreement. They urged Britain to rein in its horse now that it was on the verge of a precipice.

13.

The papers noted prominently (30.11) Lu Ping told a visiting delegation of the HK Motion Picture Industry Association that the Chinese side, in order to break the deadlock in the 17th round with regard to the appointment system of DBs, had proposed that before 1997 the British side could abolish all appointed seats, but the Chinese side would reserve their position to reinstate the appointment system after 1997. The British side had agreed to this. However, the British side insisted the 'single seat, single vote' system for LegCo, and suggested the 17th round should be the end of the first stage of talks. Lu also told the delegation if LegCo in parallel discussed electoral arrangements, then the two sides would have nothing to talk about.

14. Sing Tao Daily (30.11) quoted a Chinese source as saying it was impossible for the Chinese side to accept the proposal to include the 'single seat' single vote' system for LegCo in the first stage agreement as this would mean forcing China to accept the Governor's three conditions for decoupling the talks.

15. HKMAO vice director Wang Qiren after a meeting with a delegation from Wan Chai DB was quoted (30.11) as saying he was disappointed the 17th round had failed to achieve any results. Wang said the Chinese stand was that the talks should continue; contacts would have to be made via the diplomatic channel to set the dates for the next round. Wang alleged at the 17th round at the crucial point when an agreement could almost be reached, the British side unilaterally insisted to add in an issue relating to the 1995 elections. Wang said if an agreement could not be reached, the PWC would have to speed up and intensify its work.

16. The HK Economic Journal quoted a Chinese source (1.12) as saying the Chinese side would be more tolerant if the partial Bill tabled in LegCo covered only the voting age, voting system for the DB and municipal council elections and the abolition of appointed seats. However, it would be absolutely unacceptable to the Chinese if the voting system for LegCo elections was included.

PATTEN

3

PAGE UNCLASSIFIED