UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1459
UNCLASSIFIED
Himu
Press 84 Roundups
040202
MDLIAN 6408
30112.
OF 101015Z
INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON, PEKING, UKREP JEG HONG KONG
INFO ROUTINE HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK
INFO HKGO SAN FRANCISCO, HKGO GENEVA
PART ONE OF TWO
HONG KONG FUTURE: PRESS COVERAGE: (5.9-10.9)
SUMMARY
THE 10TH AND 11TH ROUND OF TALKS CONTINUED TO DOMINATE THE NEWS. MOST NOTED THE LACK OF PROGRESS AND THE WIDE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ON A NUMBER OF AREAS. ALSO PROMINENTLY FEATURED WERE LU PING'S DISCLOSURE AND CHINESE CRITICISMS OF THE BRITISH SUGGESTION TO FORM A NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.
TALKS
2. QUOTING SOURCES CLOSE TO THE BRITISH SIDE (6.9) THE ORIENTAL DAILY SAID THE BRITISH SIDE DID NOT EXPECT TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE SIDE BEFORE THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS ON OCTOBER 6. IT WAS ONLY LIKELY THAT AGREEMENT COULD BE REACHED ON OTHER MATTERS SUCH AS THE AIRPORT FINANCIAL PACKAGE, CT 9 OR MILITARY LANDS PRIOR TO THE MINISTERIAL MEETING. ON THE TIMING FOR TABLING THE REFORM BILL IN LEGCO, THE SOURCES SAID THE BRITISH SIDE HAD A TIMESCALE IN MIND AND WERE CONSULTING PRIVATELY LEGCO MEMBERS ABOUT THE TIME THEY NEEDED TO SCRUTINISE THE BILL. A FEW OTHER PAPERS ANALYSED THAT THE TWO SIDES STILL HAD WISE DISCREPANCIES OVER THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS AND THE THROUGH TRAIN.
3. THE PAPERS NOTED (7.9) SIR ROBIN MCLAREN ADMITTED THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL GAP BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES BUT DECLINED TO GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. HE REITERATED THERE WAS NO DEADLINE AND DECLINED TO COMMENT WHETHER THE TALKS WOULD BE COMPLETED END OF THIS YEAR.
4. SING TAO DAILY (7.9) QUOTED PEOPLE CLOSE TO THE TALKS AS SAYING THE TWO SIDES HAD DIFFERENCES IN EIGHT AREAS. THEY WERE: THE COMPOSITION AND ELECTORATE OF THE NINE NEW FUNCTIONAL
1
PAGE UNCLASSIFIED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.