TNAG-2781-FCO40-4000-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1993 — Page 178

Date

CONFIDENTIAL

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Appendix I

Chinese Comments on the Constitutional Package. Sincerity

Official/Sources /Commentators

Comments

3.7.93

NCNA HK Branch

Vice-Director

Zheng Guoxiong

to reporters at DAB anniversary banquet

4.7.93

NCNA HK Branch

Vice-Director

Zhang Junsheng

5.7.93

signed CNA commentary

5.7.93

Chinese sources quoted by ATV-H and a few papers

As long as the two sides stick to the principle of the "three conformities", positive results will be achieved. If the British deviate from the right path and suggest other principles and directions, it will create new obstacles. The Chinese side does not want to see this happen as this will be detrimental to Sino-British cooperation and contravenes HK people's wishes and interests.

The meeting of the Chinese and British foreign ministers should have taken place months earlier if not for Mr Patten's constitutional package.

More HK people have realised that the six rounds of talks have ended in deadlock because the British side has not abided by the principles and has made various false starts. The British side must return to the

basis of the "three conformities" in the talks, otherwise positive results will not

be achieved.

The Chinese side will suggest to the British that electoral arrangements for the 1994 and 1995 polls should be handled separately. The Chinese side will work out as quickly as possible with the British side arrangements for the 1994 elections so that the Government can proceed with the relevant legislation. As for the 1995 polls, which are far more complicated, the Chinese side feels that there need to be

further discussions. As for the British demand concerning the composition of the Election Committee and the Selection

Committee, the BL has stipulated that the number of people on the committees will not be the same.

CONFIDENTIAL