TNAG-2990-FCO40-3574-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 144

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169

MDADAN 53

COOPERATION. WHEN THE GOVERNOR ASKED LU PING WHICH PARTS OF THE BASIC LAW WERE INFRINGED BY HIS PROPOSALS, LU PING HAD TOLD HIM CLEARLY. THE GOVERNOR CHOSE TO IGNORE THIS. IT WAS NOT UP TO THE CHINESE SIDE NOW TO MAKE PROPOSALS. THE BASIC LAW CONTAINED DETAILED PLANS AND THERE WAS NO NEED FOR NEW ONES. MR PATTEN HAD PUT FORWARD PLANS WHICH CONFLICTED WITH THE BASIC LAW AND WITH THE JOINT DECLARATIΟΝ. HE SHOULD STOP INVENTING AND CREATING NEW THINGS. IF HE DID NOT, ALL THAT WOULD HAPPEN WOULD BE THAT CHINA WOULD FORM THE FIRST SAR GOVERNMENT ACCORDING TO THE BASIC LAW. CHINA COULD DO THIS AND STILL ASSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO CHINESE

SOVEREIGNTY.

THE ESSENCE OF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE PACE OF DEMOCRATIZATION BUT WHETHER OR NOT THE TWO SIDES COOPERATED.

7.

ON THE AIRPORT LU PING SAID THAT GOING IT ALONE VIOLATED THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. IF THE GOVERNOR INSISTED ON DOING

8.

THIS CHINA WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT IT WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE AIRPORT PROJECT. THE SAR GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT TAKE ON ANY RESULTANT RESPONSIBILITIES, DEBTS OR CONTRACTS. IF THE AIRPORT PROJECT NEEDED LAND, THE CHINESE SIDE OF THE LAND COMMITTEE WOULD NOT GIVE SUPPORT. IF THE AIRPORT WERE BUILT, AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER CHINESE AIRSPACE.

MCLAREN

YYYY

ADVANCE

.HK POLICY

MR HUM

HKD//HD 2

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J

DISTRIBUTION

LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BROOKS NO 10//SIR R BRAITHWAITE

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