TNAG-2777-FCO40-3994-Parliamentary-relations-White-Paper-on-Representational-Gove-1993 — Page 16

HOUSE HONG KONG.

WED 15 DEC 93 06:24

PG.03

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2

3.

So far, Chinese briefings/statements have not mentioned the fact that at Round 17 they introduced the condition against unilateral British action. This point is useful to us in explaining the unreasonableness of Chinese approach to the first-stage deal. It would also highlight the fact that we had not, and could not agree to a veto on future legislation by China, a point that the Chinese avoided to mention in explaining why the introduction of our partial Bill would mean the breakdown of the talks.

The point is now mentioned in passing in para. 32 of the White Paper which is a brief summary of Rounds 10-17, but is not then dealt with again in the rest of that section of the text. We believe there is a case to beef

up a little by inserting a new paragraph after

para. 43 as follows

There was a further additional condition the Chinese side introduced at Round 17 into their proposal for an interim agreement. They made plain that as part of the agreement, the British side should not take any unilateral action on any issue on which no agreement had been reached.

This is a condition that we could not

accept

we could not agree to give away our ability to put in place legislative arrangements on the other issues, without agreement where necessary. Accepting such a condition would, in effect, give the Chinese Bide a veto on the rest of the negotiation.

Chinese

side's

Grateful for your views please.

Чт

Whiten

(Peter Lai)

Cher now lette

from M. Dinham of 17 sh.) - His suggested wording has been added on to para 43 of master

copy & cover this point

Deputy Secretary for Constitutional Affairs

ке

c.c. N.J. Cox, Esq., Peking

(By Fax)

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