TNAG-2991-FCO40-3566-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 59

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FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1714

OF 241043Z JUNE 92

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MAR 012/2

09. Constit Desp p.a.

14311258

MDHIAN 9124

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INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG

CONSULTATION ON APPOINTMENTS TO EXCO: WEN WEI PO COMMENTARY

1. TODAY'S EDITION OF WEN WEI PO HAS CARRIED A LONG ARTICLE SUPPORTING GUO FENGMIN'S STATEMENTS ON APPOINTMENTS TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. ALTHOUGH I HAVE MADE A STATEMENT REFUTING GUO'S ASSERTIONS, IT WAS NOTABLE THAT THE AUTHOR OF TODAY'S ARTICLE FOCUSED HIS CRITICISM ON AN ANONYMOUS FCO SPOKESMAN WHO WAS QUOTED IN MING PAO ON 23 JUNE AS MAKING ESSENTIALLY THE SAME POINTS. THE ARTICLE TAKES THE FORM OF FOUR QUESTIONS ADDRESSED TO THE HAPLESS FCO SPOKESMAN.

2. THE FIRST QUESTION CONCERNS THE ROLE OF THE JLG AND TAKES UP ABOUT HALF THE ARTICLE. IN ESSENCE, THE ARGUMENT IS THAT HMG CANNOT CLAIM THAT ISSUES CONCERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UP TO 1997 ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR DISCUSSION IN THE JLG. THE AUTHOR CITES THE NEW AIRPORT, IDENTITY CARDS, AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS AND THE COURT OF FINAL APPEAL AS ISSUES WHICH HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE JLG AND ARGUES THAT APPOINTMENTS TO EXCO ARE EQUALLY APPROPRIATE. QUOTE THE CHINESE POSITION HAS BEEN CLEAR AND CONSISTENT. ISSUES RELATION TO A SMOOTH TRANSITION CAN BE DISCUSSED IN THE JLG UNQUOTE,

3. THE SECOND QUESTION ADDRESSES DIRECTLY THE ISSUE OF EXCO APPOINTMENTS AND MISQUOTES THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON 3 JUNE. ACCORDING TO THE AUTHOR, THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID THAT BRITAIN WOULD CONSULT CHINA ON THIS ISSUE (SIC). GUO WAS SIMPLY RESPONDING TO THIS STATEMENT.

4. THE THIRD QUESTION RELATES TO HMG'S DECLARED INTENTION TO DISCUSS THE QUESTION OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN THE 1995 LEGCO. THE AUTHOR ASKS QUOTE WHAT IS THERE TO NEGOTIATE ABOUT? HMG CAN MAKE UP ITS OWN MIND BEFORE 1997 AND THE ONLY REASON FOR RAISING IT WITH THE CHINESE IS TO PREPARE EXCUSES FOR RENEGING ON EARLIER UNDERTAKINGS ON CONVERGENCE UNQUOTE.

5. THE FOURTH QUESTION CONCERNED MR GOODLAD'S REMARKS ON THE

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