TNAG-2781-FCO40-4000-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1993 — Page 107

23.8.93

HK Commercial Daily editorial

25.8.93

HK Commercial Daily editorial

25.8.93

Sik Lik in Ta Kung Pao

28.8.93

28.8.93

NPC Vice- chairman Wang Hanbin in an interview with Window magazine

Yik Ping in Wen Wei Po

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basic thinking is still "one man, one vote". If Britain agrees to enlist mainland enterprises as a functional constituency, it will not be difficult to resolve the

other seats. The Chinese side has no problem in agreeing to different ideas on how the other seats should be allocated.

Media reports on the British side's "counter-proposal" on functional constituency arrangements show that Britain is still holding fast to the Patten package. Coupled with the British side's insistence on the through train, the counter-proposal has dimmed prospects for the talks.

On the Election Committee, British sources said the British side was particularly against the inclusion of local NPC and CPPCC delegates. But the NPC has stipulated that these delegates should make up a quarter of the committee's membership. And a through train for the legislature will only be possible with their participation in returning some of its members. The British side's attitude shows that it does not want a full through train to ensure a smooth transition, but just a through train for certain people in its camp.

Mr Patten is gambling with HK people's interests when he says that having no agreement is better than having a bad agreement.

The fundamental issue underlying the series of disputes between China and Britain since the latter half of last year is whether we should conduct affairs in accordance with the "three conformities". The so-called political reform package by the Governor is a product of the "three violations". Convergence with the BL is the basis for a smooth transition and HK's stability and prosperity.

The British side should be held responsible for the talks not achieving results after nine rounds. It lacks sincerity and has played numerous petty tricks that have only obstructed the talks. The talks will take a new turn only if the British side returns to the path of the "three conformities".

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