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MDHIAN 7143
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FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2483
OF 110005Z NOVEMBER 92
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING, ACTOR
U.S./HONG KONG: LU PING'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON
SUMMARY
1.
AMERICANS POINTED OUT TO LU PING THAT U.S. ATTITUDES TO CHINA WILL BE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY CHINA'S HANDLING OF HONG KONG IN THE TRANSITION TO 1997. THEY EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT DAMAGING BUSINESS CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG. LU PING COMPLAINED ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S FAILURE TO CONSULT ABOUT HIS DEMOCRACY PROPOSALS.
DETAIL
2.
LU PING VISITED LOS ANGELES, DALLAS, NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON FROM 30 OCTOBER TO 10 NOVEMBER, AT THE INVITATION OF THE U.S. NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON U.S./CHINA RELATIONS. HIS MAIN PURPOSE WAS TO TALK TO U.S. BUSINESSMEN TO TRY TO BOOST CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG. BUT, WHILE IN WASHINGTON, HE HAD MEETINGS AT STATE (CLARK), NSC (PAAL), COMMERCE AND USTR (HILLS).
3. THE NSC HAVE TOLD US THAT LU PING EMPHASISED THAT THE CHINESE WANTED TO SEE A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR HONG KONG IN 1997.
LAW CONTAINED PROVISIONS FOR FURTHER DEMOCRATISATION BY PROVIDING FOR A GRADUAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY-ELECTED MEMBERS OF LEGCO. IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR SUCH STEPS TO BE TAKEN IN A SLOW AND CLEAR MANNER. IT WOULD BE BEST TO HAVE AS FEW CHANGES AS POSSIBLE TO HONG KONG'S POLITICAL SYSTEM BEFORE 1997. HE ENDORSED THE QUOTE THROUGH TRAIN UNQUOTE CONCEPT, WHEREBY THE 1995 LEGCO WOULD BE THE FOUNDATION FOR FURTHER DEMOCRATISATION AFTER 1997.
4. CLARK CASSISTANT SECRETARY) SAID THAT LU PING WENT OVER THE SAME GROUND, BUT COMPLAINED ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S HANDLING OF HIS DEMOCRACY PROPOSALS. LU PING SAID THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO OVER-TURN PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS (THE 1990 EXCHANGE OF LETTERS). HE HAD WRITTEN TO THE GOVERNOR SHORTLY BEFORE HIS 7 OCTOBER SPEECH TO LEGCO PROPOSING CONSULTATIONS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. PRESSED BY CLARK LU PING SAID THAT THE RECENT STATEMENTS OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLES CONGRESS ON
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