TNAG-2771-FCO40-3988-Coverage-of-Sino-British-talks-in-the-Hong-Kong-press-1993 — Page 70

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were not willing to co-operate on these two areas, it would be difficult to say that HK's economy would not be affected. The spokesman said the Governor's remarks that he would table the reform bill in LegCo if the talks failed, made on the eve of the 12th round of talks, indicated he did not want to reach an agreement on the basis of the three conformities''. On the new airport the spokesman said if the British side did not adhere to the MOU, then the Chinese side should not be held responsible for affecting the construction of the airport.

JLG

10. The papers accorded good coverage (15.9) to the 27th round of JLG meetings. The papers quoted the Chinese team Leader Guo Fengmin as saying he hoped progress would be made by joint efforts from both sides. He also hoped the ministerial meeting would yield positive results and facilitate talks in various areas. He said the Chinese side would raise the issue of stabilising the civil

service.

11. British team Leader Tony Galsworthy was quoted as saying (15.9) the British side would seek to reach consensus over the definition of permanent residents. He hoped to achieve more progress but believed a final agreement on the disposal of military sites and on the CT9 would not be reached at this meeting. On the civil service issue, Galsworthy said the British side would first listen to the Chinese views on the matter.

12.

The papers (18.9) reported the next round of meetings would be held in London in December. They noted that at separate press conferences, the two sides had blamed each other for the lack of progress in the recent round. Galsworthy said there were still some important differences. He would expect there would be a need for further discussions. On CT9, Galsworthy said the Chinese side had asked some technical questions on the funding procedures, which were answered by the British side. Galsworthy declined to say whether slow progress was related to the political talks. Guo said he could not understand why progress could not be made in some areas and cited military land as an example.

Airport

13. HKMAO's Wang Qiren said (14.9) even if no agreement was reached in the Sino-British talks, the new airport would still have to be built. On CT9 Wang said the British side had only recently provided the Chinese side with information and the matter was

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