CONFIDENTIAL
8497653 MDHIAN580
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VARIOUS MEETINGS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. IN RESPONSE TO SUCH SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, WE INTEND TO DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING LINES, ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN USED OR REFLECTED IN MEDIA REPORTS:
THAT THE FOREIGN SECRETARY GAVE AN ADVANCE BRIEFING OF THE GOVERNOR'S CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS TO CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER IN NEW YORK ON 25 SEPTEMBER.
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LEGCO WAS BRIEFED FULLY BY THE GOVERNOR ON 24 OCTOBER ON THE DISCUSSIONS HE HAD WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS DURING HIS PEKING VISIT (20-23 OCTOBER).
- THAT THE BRITISH SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP HAD RAISED WITH HIS COUNTERPART ON 2 NOVEMBER HOW THE DIALOGUE ON CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE TAKEN FORWARD THROUGH THE JLG, AS SUGGESTED BY THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER DURING THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO PEKING. SO FAR NO CLEAR DECISION HAS BEEN MADE.
-THAT BEFORE DEPARTING FOR CANADA, THE GOVERNOR HAD TALKED TO THE DIRECTOR OF NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY (HK BRANCH) ON 11 NOVEMBER. HE TOLD THE DIRECTOR THAT IF THE CHINESE SIDE HAD ANY PROPOSALS TO PUT FORWARD FOR THE 1995 ELECTIONS OR ANY OTHER MATTERS, PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WOULD WELCOME THEM AS A CONSTRUCTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE PRESENT DEBATE.
THAT DURING THE VISIT OF THE CHINESE VICE PREMIER TO LONDON LAST WEEK, HE MET BOTH THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE FOREIGN SECRETARY. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S POSITION REMAINED:
(I) THAT HMG STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE GOVERNOR AND HIS
CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS, WHICH WERE FULLY CONSISTENT WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW:
(II) THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO CHANGE IN HMG'S POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG:
(III) THAT IT REMAINED HMG'S WISH TO WORK IN CO-OPERATION WITH
CHINA FOR SMOOTH TRANSITION ON THE BASIS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION: AND
(IV) THAT WE WERE PREPARED TO CONSIDER ANY PROPOSALS THE CHINESE
SIDE MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE.
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