as the Chairman, adopt them 100 percent. Indeed, I note,
more recently, even the Governor has spoken more or less
along similar lines on some of the points.
However the proposals deliberately leave vague
the second stage. Obviously to have a stable Government i in
Hong Kong ensuring these rights agreed to the 1st part, is
very difficult in reality. Is there to be some form of
international guarantee as to the future of the local
administration? Would China ever accept such a prosposal?
There has been an indication from Chinese sources that Hong
Kong people should govern themselves, but what does this
mean? Except for some seats on the Urban Council and the
District Boards whose role is only advisory, th present
administration of Hong Kong is by civil servants, and some
unofficials appointed by the Governor. Is this what is
envisaged in this proposal, i.e. a continuation of the
appointed system? By that time, appointed members would mean
appointed by the new administration, would that mean,
indirectly, appointed by the Chinese Govenment? Or, on the
other hand, does it mean that in these 13 odd years that are
left, Hong Kong may embark upon an altered constitution and
have elected members, at least to the Legislative Council
(which the Reform Club has been fighting for over the past 30
years without much success). If Hong Kong is no longer to be
a Colony, and Chinese sovereignty is to be recognised,
at
least in theory, would the Chinese Government accept elected
members who were not members of the communist party, or at
least fellow travellers? Even if so, surely they would not
tolerate for a moment any system which makes it possible for
a nationalist Chinese to be elected to the Legislative
Alternatively, is the unfortunate reality to be
Council!