TNAG-2771-FCO40-3988-Coverage-of-Sino-British-talks-in-the-Hong-Kong-press-1993 — Page 18

UNCLASSIFIED

127114

MDLIAN 4176

conduct parallel discussions in LegCo so as to use Legco to exert pressure on China. The Chinese side would not fall into this trap. Whatever happened, the Chinese Government would do its best to maintain HK's stability and prosperity. According to DAB chairman Tsang Yok-sing, Lu said the talks had ''stopped'' and not ''suspended''. Tsang believed Lu would shortly disclose to HK people the content of the talks to show the responsibility for the breakdown fell on the British side.

24. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wu Jianmin said if the British side submitted the electoral Bill to Legco that would signify the talks might break down and the responsibility rested on the British side.

25. A statement issued by the NCNA HK Branch (3.12) said the tabling of an electoral Bill to Legco in the absence of any agreement was an act of putting Legco above the two governments. This was a deliberate step by the British side to damage the talks and would mean the talks would come to an halt. The British should be held responsible for all the consequences.

JLG

26. A few papers quoted the Senior representative to the Chinese side of the JLG, Guo Fengmin (29.11) criticised the British side for not implementing the agreement on the Court of Final Appeal. Guo said the Chinese side were not responsible for the failure to speed up work in the JLG.

27. An announcement that the 28th round of JLG meetings would be held from 7-9 December in London was noted (1.12). Most papers noted the agenda would include military Lands, Localisation of Laws and travel documents.

Right of Abode in the UK

28. A vice director in the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Guisheng (30.11) in a meeting with the Wanchai DB delegation was quoted as saying as the Chinese Government had never recognised right of abode granted under the British Nationality scheme, those HK permanent residents people who had such right would be deemed as Chinese nationals and they would not be entitled to consulate protection by the British Embassy within China. However, these people will fall within the 20 per cent of seats in LegCo allowed

3

PAGE UNCLASSIFIED