TNAG-2771-FCO40-3988-Coverage-of-Sino-British-talks-in-the-Hong-Kong-press-1993 — Page 50

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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

(PART ONE OF TWO)

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HONG KONG FUTURE: PRESS COVERAGE: (9.10.83 16.10.93)

SUMMARY

1. THE PRESS NOTED THE 13TH ROUND OF CONSTITUTIONAL TALKS ENDED WITHOUT ANY BREAKTHROUGH. ALSO WIDELY NOTED WERE REMARKS BY THE GOVERNOR AND CHINESE LEADERS ON THE TALKS.

SINO-BRITISH TALKS

2. THE EXPRESS (9.10) QUOTED SOURCES AS SAYING CHINA AND BRITAIN WOULD HOLD THREE ROUNDS OF TALKS WITHIN THIS MONTH BEFORE THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO LONDON EARLY NEXT MONTH. SOURCES SAID IF THE TWO SIDES COULD STILL NOT REACH AN AGREEMENT OR ACHIEVE GREATER PROGRESS, THE BRITISH CABINET MIGHT BE MORE DETERMINED TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR TO TABLE HIS BILL IN LEGCO. THE SOURCES INDICATED THE BRITISH SIDE WOULD HOWEVER CONTINUE TO WORK FOR PROGRESS AND IF MORE PROGRESS COULD BE ACHIEVED, THE CABINET WOULD SUPPORT THE CONTINUATION OF THE TALKS.

3. A CNA COMMENTARY SAID (11.10) IT WAS AN ILLUSION IF THE BRITISH INTENDED TO ISSUE AN ULTIMATUM TO PRESS THE CHINESE TO ACCEPT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS. THE CHINESE WOULD NOT GIVE WAY ON ISSUES OF PRINCIPLE AND SOVEREIGNTY. THE ARTICLE CRITICISED THE GOVERNOR FOR INSISTING ON HIS 'THREE VIOLATIONS' PACKAGE IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS AND SHIFTING THE BLAME TO THE CHINESE SIDE FOR THE FAILURE SO FAR TO REACH AN AGREEMENT.

4. AN ARTICLE ENTITLED 'ON CHINA'S FIRM POSITION ON THE HK QUESTION' IN THE OUTLOOK MAGAZINE, RELEASED BY THE CNS, SAID THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT WAVER IN IMPLEMENTING THE POLICY OF 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS' AND 'HK PEOPLE RUNNING HK'. IF THE TALKS FAILED IT WAS 'NO BIG DEAL', THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WOULD CARRY OUT ITS WORK ON THE BASIS OF THE BL. REFERRING TO DENG XIAOPING'S