TNAG-2788-FCO40-4027-Chinese-policy-on-Hong-Kong-an-overview-1993 — Page 8

CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS GENERAL

A1.

Jiang Zemin told a DAB delegation that the British government was suddenly raising demands about democracy,

having done nothing about democracy for many years before. He said the question of democracy should be considered in the light of a nation's culture and economic

circumstances.

AZ.

(HK Economic Times 21 July 1992).

Lu

The Chinese were said to have agreed with a

suggestion that the voting age should be lowered to 18. Ping had said that proportional representation would be studied. He suggested expanding functional constitutencies by adding ones for workers, fishermen etc. The Election

Committee could be composed of four elements as in the

Basic Law but might have a smaller membership (report by

DAB on its discussions in Peking, TKP, WWP 25 July 1992).

A3.

According to a WWP report (23 October 1992), Qian Qichen told the Governor in Peking that co-operation over Hong Kong was an important element in Sino-British

relations and that the recent proposals of the Hong Kong

British authorities had clearly violated the letter and

spirit of the Joint Declaration and had violated promises

given by the British side on the convergence of Hong Kong's political system with the Basic Law and had also violated

relevant understandings between the two sides. He

described the Hong Kong British authorities' actions as a

challenge to co-operation. (WWP 23 October 1992).

A4.

At a press conference on 23 October 1992 (immediately following the Governor's departure from

Peking), Lu Ping said that if the Governor disregarded Chinese views, when the time came, China would set up the

SAR's first LegCo, its first government and judicial organs

in accordance with the Basic Law. (TKP, WWP 27 Oct 1992).

I

隳

2

A5.

Lu Ping said as Hong Kong was not an independent

state there was no basis for holding a referendum (TKP, WWP

27 October 1992).

A6.

Speaking in London, Zhu Rongji said that the Governor's proposals contravened the Joint Declaration and

Sino-British understandings on convergence with the Basic

Law. He said that people could not but ask whether the

Sino-British agreement needed to be observed or whether they had "gone with the wind". He added that China would

not compromise on principles and expressed the hope that the two sides would resume co-operation (Hong Kong press 17

November 1992).

A7.

In answer to a question about China's attitude to political groups or officials who publicly supported the

Governor's proposals, Lu Ping said this was not a matter

for the central authorities but for the SAR to decide.

long as people abided by the law there should be no problem

(TKP 4 January 1993).

A8.

Lu Ping said that China would definitely reject

any decision by LegCo which failed to converge with the

Basic Law (South China Morning Post 8 January 1993).

A9.

As

Speaking on 11 January 1993, Jiang Zemin said

that, come what may, China would make sure that Hong Kong

returned to the motherland in 1997 and would carry out a

smooth transition and maintain Hong Kong's long-term

stability and prosperity (CNS/WWP 12 January 1993).

3

A10.

As reported by Zhonghua Tiancai (Outstanding Chinese Personalities) Magazine, Qian Qichen said that any

change in Hong Kong's political system must be fully

discussed with the Chinese side in order to ensure Hong

Kong's peaceful transition and smooth handover in 1997. He said that the Governor's proposals embodied such changes,

elevating the status of LegCo so as to change Hong Kong's

executive-led system to leadership by LegCo. He said it

was not by chance that Britain had suddenly instigated this dispute and China was unable to make any concession on

questions of this kind. (WWP 18 Feb 1993).

All.

Li Peng on 18 February 1993 told T T Tsui that there would be no change in China's fundamental policy of

"one country two systems" and maintaining Hong Kong's

prosperity and stability. He added that all agreements and

understandings between the two sides should be observed and that all matters straddling 1997 involving responsibilities and obligations for the SARG and involving convergence with

the Basic Law should be resolved by consultation between

the Chinese and British sides (TKP 19 Feb 1993)..

A12.

At a press conference in Peking, Lu Ping described the Governor as "a man of guilt for 1,000 years" accusing

him of shutting the doors to the talks, first by gazetting

by bill on electoral arrangements and then by informing legislators about the diplomatic exchanges taking place (HK

press 18 March 1993).

A13.

Jiang Zemin told Guangdong deputies to the

National People's Congress that in 1997 China would

implement "one country, two systems", it "would not

despatch a large army across the Yangtze to take over the

running of Hong Kong" and that Hong Kong would not be as

Shanghai had been. It was hoped that "one country two

systems" would ensure Hong Kong's prosperity and stability;