TNAG-2802-FCO40-4042-Hong-Kong-six-monthly-meetings-of-foreign-ministers-1993 — Page 15

thoma

I

BULL POINTS ON HONG KONG

We are working for success in the talks with China.

Although they are taken up with arcane points of electoral

practice, there are important issues at stake.

We are seeking two things: fair and open elections, and

acceptable criteria for deciding which members of LegCo

elected in 1995 meet the requirements of the Basic Law for

serving on beyond 1997.

If we can achieve that in cooperation with China, a prize

worth having: and good for confidence.

We have made major moves in an effort to meet Chinese concerns and bridge the gap. But there is a point beyond which we cannot go if elections are to be fair and open.

We have

But

Progress so far has frankly been disappointing.

agreed to intensify the negotiations during October.

talks cannot go on indefinitely weeks rather than months.

If we cannot get agreement, we will take our

responsibilities and put draft legislation to LegCo for them

to pass the necessary laws.

I still hope that we can resolve our differences on the

electoral issues. If we cannot, this will not change the

need for cooperation between Britain and China over Hong

Kong. There would still be many areas where it would be

important to work together for a smooth transition.

One is economic: Chinese spokesmen have said that they want

to safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity. We hope they will put that into practice by agreeing soon on the financing package for the new Airport, and on Container Terminal 9.

bll.pts.PET

SLM

2

Page 15Page 16