TNAG-2782-FCO40-4001-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Chinese-policy-1993 — Page 30

05-JAN-1993 15:36

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS BR

+ 852 840 1976

P.06

5

A.

I'm

afraid this is not

entirely the product of bilateral talks. We emphasised that the drafting of

the Basic law was an internal matter, but what

involved the issue of smooth transition. A smooth

transition involves pre-1997 issues. The British are

responsible for administration before 1997. For the sake of a smooth transition and convergence, it was necessary to negotiate with Britain. Though there

were bilateral talks, the question was at the end put to Hong Kong people. The people have expressed views on a smooth transition such as the "through train" model. Initially, there was no such consideration.

After bilateral talks and consultations, many Hong Kong people raised the need for a through train. was not entirely between the two governments.

This

Q.

But many Hong

elected seats.

A.

Kong people asked for more directly For example, some conservatives called

for 24 seats. But that was not heeded in the end.

Some

I'm afraid there was no consensus at the time.

called for a faster, some a slower, pace. A middle

ground was eventually struck.

Q..

A.

What I want to ask are the effects of a tense

Sino-British relationship on Hong Kong. Why use Hong Kong as a battle ground for diplomatic warfare? Why can't China. be more direct, for instance, over trade, to face the British directly just as you treated the

French, rather than using Hong Kong as the

battleground?

I would like to

with Britain.

say we do not want a diplomatic war

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