TNAG-2954-FCO40-4231-Extradition-cases-from-the-UK-and-France-to-Hong-Kong-Lorrai-1993 — Page 154

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CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY PARIS

TELNO 10

OF 121701Z JANUARY 93

CONFIDENTIAL

Mn Woodrow zur

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lut support, please? Most

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SANMAN (pawak).

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG INFO PRIORITY BTC HONG KONG, WASHINGTON

HKD 384/1

IA

RECE

MIPT:

ANGLO-FRENCH TALKS ON ASIA: HONG KONG

1 4 JAN 1993

OFFICE

INUE

SUMMARY

1.

HONG

WE EXPLAIN TO FRENCH THE CURRENT SITUATION IN HONG KONG. SEEK FRENCH SUPPORT IN THEIR CONTACTS WITH CHINA AND RAISE CASE OF RAIS-BIN-SANIMAN.

DETAIL

2.

SIR J COLES OUTLINED THE BACKGROUND TO THE CURRENT DISPUTE WITH THE CHINESE. PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS HAD HELD UP WELL IN HONG KONG, ALTHOUGH OPINION IN BUSINESS CIRCLES WAS LESS SUPPORTIVE. THE CHINESE HAD PUT CRUDE PRESSURE ON MAJOR COMPANIES WHO WERE AFRAID THAT THEIR INTERESTS WOULD BE DAMAGED.

3.

THE UK HAD ALWAYS EXPECTED AN ADVERSE CHINESE REACTION TO THE PROPOSALS ALTHOUGH THEIR REACTION TO DATE HAD BEEN AT THE EXTREME END OF THE SPECTRUM. THEY HAD OVER-REACTED TO WHAT WERE MODEST PROPOSALS WHICH DID NOT CONFLICT WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION OF THE BASIC LAW AND WHICH RESPONDED TO A GENUINE DESIRE FOR MORE DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG. THE GOVERNOR PLANNED TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION IN LEGCO IN FEBRUARY. IT WAS LIKELY THAT THERE WOULD BE PROLONGED DEBATE. IT WAS ALREADY CLEAR THAT ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS WOULD BE PUT FORWARD BY MEMBERS OF LEGCO AND THESE WOULD BE DEBATED IN FULL.

4.

THE PUBLIC ATTITUDE OF THE CHINESE HAD BECOME MORE MODERATE OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS. THE THREAT OF THE CHINESE SETTING UP WHAT MIGHT AMOUNT TO A SHADOW GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG HAD RECEDED FOR THE TIME BEING, BUT IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO BE TOO OPTIMISTIC. SO FAR THERE WAS NOTHING TO SUGGEST ANY MODERATION OF CHINA'S FUNDAMENTAL OPPOSITION TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS.

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PAGE CONFIDENTIAL

Jake!