TNAG-2780-FCO40-3999-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1993 — Page 101

UNCLASSIFIED

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 929

OF 071039Z JUNE 93

UNCLASSIFIED

HICC 01/2

RECEIVED IN RECISTRY

7 JUN 1993

153

134752

MDHIAN 3703

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taker!

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

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012/2

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PRESS REPORTS

BEC BILL AND LEGCO PANEL

1. MANY PAPERS TODAY REPORTED ON A CHINA NEWS AGENCY COMMENTARY WHICH SAID IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE BRITISH SIDE'S PETTY TRICKS THAT

SOME LEGISLATORS WERE SUPPORTED BY THE HKG TO SYSTEMATICALLY

INTRODUCE INTO LEGCO IN A PIECEMEAL MANNER THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS, AT A TIME WHEN SINO-BRITISH TALKS WERE STILL GOING ON AND HONG KONG PEOPLE WERE NOT ALERT. THE INTENTION WAS TO CREATE

A FAIT ACCOMPLI TO PUT PRESSURE ON CHINA.

2.

THE ARTICLE ALSO REFERRED TO THE GOVERNOR'S LEGCO ADDRESS

SAYING THAT THE BEC WAS AN ORGAN DIRECTLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF

THE GOVERNOR TO IMPLEMENT HIS CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE. IT WAS UNNECESSARY AND INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE LEGCO PANEL TO DISCUSS THE

BEC BILL AT THIS SENSITIVE TIME WHEN THE CONSTITUTIONAL TALKS

WERE ON-GOING. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE CHINESE MFA HAD EXPRESSED STRONG DISSATISFACTION TO THE BRITISH SIDE, AND URGED THAT ALL INAPPROPRIATE TALKS AND ACTS SHOULD BE STOPPED TO AVOID GENERATING FURTHER OBSTACLES TO THE TALKS.

3.

IN A RELATED DEVELOPMENT DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF NCNA ZHANG

JUNSHENG WAS QUOTED YESTERDAY AS SAYING THAT PENDING AN AGREEMENT IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL TALKS, ANY UNILATERAL DECISION TAKEN BY THE HKG WOULD BE IN INVALID. WHILST THE BRITISH SIDE HAD PLAYED

THREE PETTY TRICKS, THE CHINESE SIDE HAD DEMONSTRATED SINCERITY BY DOING THREE GOOD THINGS, I.E. RESUMPTION OF AIRPORT COMMITTEE AND LAND COMMISSION MEETINGS AND AGREEING TO THREE FRANCHISES.

IF THE LEGCO PANEL'S DISCUSSION HAD NO BINDING EFFECT AS CLAIMED BY THE HKG, SUCH DISCUSSIONS WERE IN FACT REDUNDANT. THE BRITISH SIDE SHOULD RESTRAIN THE ACTIONS OF HKG AND LEGCO.

THE LEFT WING PRESS DEVOTED EXTENSIVE COVERAGE TODAY TO

CRITICISE THE BRITISH SIDE'S PETTY TRICKS WHICH WERE SAID TO HAVE

DESTROYED THE BASIS OF CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ON THE

4.

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