TNAG-2788-FCO40-4027-Chinese-policy-on-Hong-Kong-an-overview-1993 — Page 15

A33.

After a meeting with Lu Ping on 14 October, Urban

Council Member Chan Yeuk-sat quoted Lu as saying that if no

agreement could be reached between China and Britain on the

political system Mr Patten's government would not just be a

lame duck but a duck without legs which could hardly move

an inch (HK Economic Times 15 Oct 1993).

A34.

Lu Ping said that the two sides' major differences

in the talks were over functional constituencies and the

election committee. Lu added that China did not want to

change such features of Hong Kong as its press and religious freedoms and its laws. (Eong Kong press 22 October 1993).

A35.

Speaking to the publisher and Chief Editor of WAP

on 25 October, Lu Ping said that it would be better if the

two sides could reach an agreement on the basis of the "3 conformities" than for them not to reach agreement, but the

agreement to be reached must really be a good one helpful to Hong Kong's transition; otherwise, it would be better

not to have an agreement which was not beneficial to Eong

Kong (WWP 26 October 1993).

A36.

Lu Ping said that China had consulted Britain on

the Basic Law but after it had been passed Mr Patten had

produced proposals which took no account of the Basic Law

nor of understandings reached between the two Foreign Ministers. China had made a concession by agreeing to

talks while the Governor was putting forward proposals

embodying the "3 violations" (WWP 29 Oct 1993).

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