CONFIDENTIAL
73)
034424
MDHIAN 7761
ри
pur int3up.
CONFIDENTIAL
FM SINGAPORE
TO DESKBY 06150OZ FCO
TELNO 151
OF 061148Z JULY 93
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING, TOKYO, ASEAN POSTS, WASHINGTON
FROM PRIVATE SECRETARY
FOREIGN SECRETARY'S VISIT TO SINGAPORE, 5-6 JULY : CHINA/HONG KONG
SUMMARY
1.
CHINA/HONG KONG A THEME OF THE VISIT. FOREIGN SECRETARY TAKES THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEF THE SINGAPORE PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER ABOUT THE STATE OF NEGOTIATIONS. MAIN ISSUE OF INTEREST AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE. FOREIGN SECRETARY INCLUDES A PREPARED PASSAGE ON HONG KONG IN HIS SPEECH.
DETAIL
2. THE FOREIGN SECRETARY TOLD THE SINGAPORE PRIME MINISTER, GOH CHOK TONG, THAT HE WAS GOING TO CHINA AFTER TOKYO AT THE SUGGESTION OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG. ONE OF HIS AIMS WAS TO INVOLVE THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER MORE DIRECTLY IN THE NEGOTIATIONS OVER HONG KONG. HE HOPED IN THIS WAY TO IMPROVE THE CHANCES OF SUCCESS. HE WAS NOT GOING TO NEGOTIATE ON HONG KONG'S BEHALF. THE AIM WAS TO GET CHINA TO PRODUCE COUNTER PROPOSALS TO THOSE PRESENTED BY THE GOVERNOR LAST YEAR. THE CHINESE SIDE WERE BEGINNING TO PRODUCE THEIR IDEAS. THE AIM WAS TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WHICH COULD BE TAKEN TO LEGCO. THE ALTERNATIVE WAS TO ALLOW LEGCO TO AMEND THE GOVERNOR'S OWN PROPOSALS, A LESS PREDICTABLE PROCESS. WE WERE TAKING CARE TO AVOID SETTING ANY DEADLINES. THE AIM WAS TO REACH AN AGREEMENT. CHINA COULD NOT NOW IGNORE THE POLITICAL CONCERNS IN HONG KONG WHICH, OF COURSE, WERE GENERATED BY THE CHINESE ACTIONS IN TIANAMEN SQUARE. THE CHINESE NEEDED TO ACCEPT THAT. HE THOUGHT WE WERE IN FOR A DIFFICULT YEAR WITH CHINA. BUT OVER THE COMING FOUR YEARS, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY SAID HE THOUGHT THE CHANCES OF AN AGREED TRANSITION WERE QUITE GOOD AS LONG AS NEITHER SIDE TOOK LEAVE OF ITS SENSES.
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
R
HILD OZ1/2.
07 JUL 1993
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.