End snubs to Patten, Rifkind to tell Peking

TERESA POOLE

Peking

STEVE VINES

Hong Kong

China must start talking again to Chris Patten, the Governor of Hong Kong, if it wants to restore the tattered confidence of the colony's people before next year's transfer of sovereignty, the Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind, is expected to tell President Jiang Zemin today.

British officials in Peking said yesterday that the last few months had seen a "haemorrhaging of confidence" from people in Hong Kong and that resuming contact between Peking and Mr Patten would have a direct impact on morale in the colony.

Mr Patten has been sidelined by Peking since 1992 when he unveiled his electoral reforms for the colony. Mr Rifkind said he told his Chinese counterpart, Qian Qichen, on Tuesday that "it was highly desirable for the British and Chinese sides to have full dialogue incorporating all those who have an important role to play. We hope that over the weeks to come the Chinese side will reflect on this and that we can turn to a proper dialogue which is very much in the interests of the people of Hong Kong."

Asked for evidence that confidence was declining in the colony, the officials cited opinion polls and applications for emigration to other countries "up 50, 60, 70 per cent".

Mr Rifkind yesterday held a meeting with China's Prime Minister, Li Peng, in which he stressed that improving morale was essential. "Crucial to that confidence will, of course, be their belief that the autonomy of Hong Kong provided for in the 'two systems, one country' principle will be fully respected," Mr Rifkind said.

Last night's national television news gave mixed signals of China's reaction. Mr Li was quoted as saying Peking "would not send a single official to take up office" in Hong Kong and "will not take away a single penny of Hong Kong's money" after the territory reverts to mainland rule on 30 June 1997. But the positive effect of reiterating existing Chinese commitments was clouded by a more ambiguous comment: "If people worry about Hong Kong's future, it does not matter. So long as Hong Kong remains a good trade and investment centre, those people who leave will return."

The steady improvement in Sino-British relations has appeared to ease the atmosphere for negotiations over Hong Kong during Mr Rifkind's three- day visit. But his attempts to persuade Peking to rethink its plans to dismantle the colony's elected Legislative Council, fell as expected, on deaf ears. "Sadly, but not surprisingly, [Li Peng] repeated the known Chinese position with regard to Legco," said the Foreign Secretary.

Mr Rifkind also put great emphasis on the sensitivity of China's future choice of chief executive to take over on 1 July 1997 in Hong Kong. The candidate, who must be a Hong Kong person, should "be someone who commands the support and respect of the civil service in Hong Kong and of the people of the territory," he said.

On the question of right of abode, Mr Rifkind said on Tuesday that his Chinese counterpart had confirmed that "all those persons with permanent resident status who are now in HK will continue to have resident status after 1997".

However, British officials admitted yesterday that the query had been raised in the context of the future status of long-stay expatriate businessmen in Hong Kong. Still to be clarified is the future status of Hong Kong- born ethnic minorities, and Hong Kong Chinese holders of foreign passports, especially if they are living abroad. These issues are yet to be sorted out by the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group.