TNAG-2990-FCO40-3574-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 112

NTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

Message from

Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs to

Secretary of State

for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (3 February 1998)

Thank you for your message of 31 January conveyed to me through Ambassador Alan Donald. I appreciate your

wish to reach an early understanding with me on the development of a political structure for Hong Kong.

2.

any

The British side has regrettably failed to make concession on the relevant specific proposals, at which I cannot but feel very much disappointed. The Chinese side has all along endeavoured with sincerity to reach a common understanding on this issue with the British side. Chinese leaders expounded China's fair and reasonable position both in a letter to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and during

their meetings with special envoy Percy Cradock and

Governor David Wilson. In the talks between my colleagues

and the Hong Kong Governor and in my messages to you, we

made for more than once major concessions.

However,

China's sincerity in this regard has not received due, positive

from response

the British

side.

In

such

circumstances, I see no need for sending your colleagues to Beijing for another round of consultations.

3.

As you know,

the Drafting Committee of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will meet soon and make a final decision. If the British side is unable to accept the proposals I put forward in my 20 January message to you, the Basic Law Drafting Committee will have to make a decision within the framework of the

original proposal. I believe that the Foreign Secretary is well aware of the fact that the drafting of the Basic Law

is entirely China's internal affair.

CONFIDENTIAL