Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Major backs greater Hong Kong self-rule Date: Thu, 19 Nov 92 15:23:03 EST Message-ID: \SE A;TOP OF THE NEWS;WORLD \HD Major backs greater Hong Kong self-rule \BY FROM WIRE DISPATCHES AND STAFF REPORTS \DT LONDON LONDON - British Prime Minister John Major told a visiting Chinese vice prime minister that despite Beijing's opposition, he supports plans to extend democracy in Hong Kong before the colony reverts to Chinese rule in 1997. Mr. Major met with Zhu Rongji and told him he backs Hong Kong Gov. Chris Patten's plan to increase the number of elected legislators there, the prime minister's office said in a statement. In a speech at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London this week, Mr. Zhu said Mr. Patten's plans could lead China to break a 1984 agreement to preserve Hong Kong's capitalist system for 50 years after China takes control. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM