TNAG-2781-FCO40-4000-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1993 — Page 191

Date

CONFIDENTIAL

16 -

Appendix IV

Chinese Comments on SARPC Preparatory Working Committee

Official/Sources

/Commentators

3.7.93

Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao editorials

4.7.93

Comments

The setting up of the SARPC preparatory working committee will be conducive to HK's smooth transition as a lot of work need to be done now to prepare HK for the 1997 changeover. The worries that the working committee will become a "second power centre" are unfounded.

Lu Ping in an interview with Window magazine

The role of the working committee is to put forward views on the post-1997 political, economic, social and education fronts, for reference by related departments. It cannot be a power centre and will not infringe on British rule before 1997.

4.7.93

Zhang Junsheng

4.7.93

Outlook magazine article quoted in an NCNA dispatch

5.7.93

Chinese sources quoted by ATV

6.7.93

Wu Jianfan

For the preparatory working committee to function, it is impossible for it to have too large a membership.

The setting up of the preparatory working committee is timely and conducive to HK's smooth transition and prosperity. The committee is not a "second stove" or a "second power centre". Neither is it a "shadow government".

The British cannot take part in the SARPC as this is a matter for the Chinese Government.

The main responsibility of the working committee is to study how various organisations under the SAR Government should be formed, how relevant personnel should be selected, and how existing laws and agreements should be ratified in accordance with the BL. All political legislation and agreements related to the SAR Government will be scrutinised.

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