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10. The United Daily News (20.12) quoted a report in a Beijing Magazine as saying the Central Military Commission last year had decided to set up a group to study the stationing of troops in HK after 1997 and that CCP Central Committee member Lei Mingqiu was the likely candidate to fill the post of commander of the PLA troops in HK after 1997.
Zhang Junsheng
11. NCNA HK branch deputy director Zhang Junsheng was quoted (24.12) as saying any issues that concerned HK's transition would not be able to straddle 1997 if they had not been stipulated in the BL or agreed between the Chinese and British Governments through negotiations. Zhang said these included the district organisations such as DBs and the municipal councils. On the appointment of senior civil servants, Zhang said the BL had clear stipulations. Zhang refused to say whether the Chinese side would be willing to discuss this subject with the British side. Zhang claimed any transitional issues fell within the authority of the Chinese side: the British side had no right to interfere.
Li Peng
12. The United Daily (24.12) in an interview with a magazine recently, Chinese Premier Li Peng reiterated China would not barter away its principles on HK. Whatever happened, China had the confidence and ability to resume sovereignty over HK in 1997.
BBC Programme on Mao Zedong
13.
SCMP noted (18.12) China's Foreign Ministry accused the BBC of degeneration of journalistic ethics in producing a documentary portraying Mao Zedong's private life. The spokesman said Mao was a great historic person loved by the Chinese people and respected by the people of the world. Any personal attacks Launched against him "with malicious slander and using mean tricks" would not damage his historic position. Asked what specific action China might take by way of retaliation, the spokesman said the Chinese Government was considering the question. A British Embassy spokesman was quoted as saying their standard position on the BBC remained the same: it
an independent organisation and there was nothing the British Government could do to influence it.
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