TNAG-2990-FCO40-3574-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 204

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THERE WILL BE CHAOS. HOWEVER, THE SERIES OF DECISIONS PUT FORWARD BY MR PATTEN HAS MADE GREAT CHANGES TO THE EXISTING POLITICAL SITUATION. THE SO-CALLED 'PROPOSALS' ON THE 1995 LEGCO ELECTIONS HAVE NOT IN FACT BEEN THE SUBJECT OF CONSULTATIONS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE AND THEY IGNORE ALL THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF IDEAS OF HONG KONG SOCIETY, WITH THE RESULT THAT THEY ARE IN NO POSITION TO DISCUSS HOW TO CONVERGE WITH THE METHOD, TO BE DECIDED ON BY THE SAR PREPARATORY COMMITTEE, FOR PRODUCING THE FIRST ELECTION COMMITTEE OF THE SAR. AS FOR CHANGING THE FUNCTION OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND ABOLISHING THE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM FOR DISTRICT BOARDS AND FOR THE TWO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, THIS IS ALSO INAPPROPRIATE. THE BRITISH SIDE ARE IGNORING THE CHINESE SIDE'S REASONABLE DEMANDS, AND HAVE NOT ONLY NOT UNDERGONE CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE SIDE, BUT HAVE UNILATERALLY PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED THEIR SO-CALLED ''PROPOSALS.'' THIS IS A DELIBERATE STIRRING UP OF PUBLIC DEBATE.

ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE JD, THE BRITISH SIDE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG BEFORE 1 JULY 1997, IN ORDER TO SAFEGUARD HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL COOPERATE IN THIS. WHAT MAKES US FEEL REGRET IS THAT MR PATTEN HAS IGNORED AND FORGOTTEN COOPERATION BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA, AND HAS IGNORED THE MESSAGE GIVEN TIME AND AGAIN BY THE CHINESE SIDE THAT CONSULTATION AND FRIENDLY COOPERATION SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED. WE CAN ONLY SERIOUSLY POINT OUT THAT IF ANY CHANGES TAKE PLACE IN HONG KONG DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD WHICH DO NOT CONVERGE WITH THE BASIC LAW THEN THE CHINESE SIDE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. WHEN THE TIME COMES, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE HK SAR AND THE RELEVANT BODIES WILL BE

ESTABLISHED ACCORDING TO THE STIPULATIONS OF THE BASIC LAW AND THE RELEVANT DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS.

ENDS

MCLAREN

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