TNAG-2788-FCO40-4027-Chinese-policy-on-Hong-Kong-an-overview-1993 — Page 13

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A24.

In an interview with Bauhinia (August 1993 issue),

Qian Qichen referred to the three principles outlined by

Deng at his meeting with Mrs Thatcher on 24 September 1982;

the means of administering Hong Kong; ensuring its

prosperity; and consultation between China and Britain on

avoiding disturbances before 1997. Qian continued that

Deng had said that small disturbances were inevitable but

could be dealt with by co-operation between China and

Britain. (See also S4).

A25.

Lu Ping told a delegation of the Tung Wah group of

hospitals that although there had been only very little5 progress in 5 months of talks it was not true to say that there had been none. (Hong Kong press 11 September 1993).

A26.

At a meeting with the Liberal Democratic

Federation in Peking, Lu Ping said that if an agreement

could not be reached the Chinese side would need to act in

accordance with the Basic Law after 1997 and arrange for

elections for the first SAR Legislature. He also

criticised the Briitsh side for going slow in the talks,

referring to the break in August (HK press 6 Sept).

A27.

At a press conference in New York on 14 September,

Lu Ping said that the Chinese government had the obligation

and responsibility to lay a sound basis for the future SARG

in the political, economic and social fields in order to

enable it to assure Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.

He said that after 1997 Hong Kong's present laws would be

maintained except those with colonialist content and that

China would not send even one person to take over official posts in Hong Kong and would fully implement "Hong Kong

people running Hong Kong" (WWP 16 Sept 1993).

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