§ Sir Ivan LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for improving relations with China over Hong Kong.
§ Mr. GoodladDiplomatic contacts with China have taken place in recent weeks in Peking. Our aim has been to explore whether a firm and productive basis could be found for the two sides to enter formal talks on the arrangements for the 1994–95 elections. In announcing last week that the Bill embodying those arrangements would not be published on 26 February, the Hong Kong Government promised to set out the reasons for the delay. The Governor made a statement to the Legislative Council on 5 March to this end.
Since the Governor's policy address to the Legislative Council last October, we have made clear that we are ready to talk at any time and without pre-conditions in an effort to reach an understanding with the Chinese side on these electoral arrangements. The Legislative Council is already examining the boundaries and Election Commission Bill. The Executive Council endorsed on 2 February draft legislation embodying the remainder of the Governor's constitutional proposals. So there is no mystery about what the draft legislation contains. We passed a copy of it to the Chinese side on 6 February. At the same time we repeated formally our willingness to talk at any time without pre-conditions; and we explained to the Chinese side that the Bill was ready for gazetting.
We received a positive response on the principle of talks from the Chinese side. To help ensure that talks got off to the best possible start, we and the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, decided to postpone our original plan for gazettal on 12 February, while making clear to the Chinese side that there could not be an indefinite delay, given the practical need to press ahead with legislation. We proposed an early starting date for the talks and told the Chinese side of the composition of our negotiating team.
In the absence of a Chinese response, we and the Governor decided, again with the advice of the Executive Council, to delay gazettal for a second time on 19 February and for a third time on 26 February. We wished to give every possible opportunity for the Chinese side to respond.
At the beginning of March, we did receive a reply. But despite further diplomatic contacts, in which we have continued to press for early talks, we have not yet been able to announce a starting date for them. We have made 321W plain that we are ready for the talks to proceed on the basis of the Joint Declaration, the principle of convergence with the Basic Law, and the relevant understandings and agreements reached between China and Britain. We consider the Governor's proposals are wholly compatible with these.
As far as we are concerned, we are ready to talk immediately. Following further exchanges in Peking in recent days, there remain only a few points of disagreement which could and should be resolved quickly. In the meantime, we and the Governor decided to defer gazettal for a fourth time.
§ Mr. Raymond S. RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the annual report on Hong Kong will be laid before Parliament.
§ Mr. GoodladThe report is being published and laid before Parliament today. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.