GR 600
CONFIDENTIAL
ник око 25
CONFIDENTIAL RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
FM HONG KONG 120442Z OCT 84
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3189 OF 12 OCTOBER
1 50CT 1984
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
Almen TakES
Jakist. Con
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, PEKING, HK GOVT REPS WASHINGTON, CG NEW YORK, BRUSSELS, UKMIS GENEVA
OUR TELNO 3141: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: REPORT ON PUBLIC OPINION.
1. DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DRAFT AGREEMENT HAS DIMINISHED BUT REMAINS LIVELY. IT IS NO LONGER AS INTENSE AS IT WAS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER.
2. REACTION REMAINS GENERALLY FAVOURABLE BUT WORRIES CONTINUE TO SURFACE ABOUT PARTICULAR ASPECTS. NATIONALITY AND DEFENCE STILL AROUSE CONCERN (OUR TEL UNDER REF, PARAGRAPH 3). PEOPLE ARE INCREASINGLY FOCUSING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BASIC LAW, AND EXPRESSING THE HOPE THAT PEKING WILL CONSULT THE HONG KONG PEOPLE OVER THE DRAFTING PROCESS. TWO PARTICULAR WORRIES WHICH HAVE SPREAD DURING THE PAST WEEK ARE THAT THE POST-1997 CHIEF EXECUTIVE COULD IN PRACTICE BE ACCOUNTABLE TO PEKING RATHER THAN TO HONG KONG: AND THAT CORRUPTION, BELIEVED TO BE WIDESPREAD IN CHINA, WILL SPREAD TO HONG KONG AFTER 1997 UNLESS FIRM STEPS ARE TAKEN TO RETAIN AND STRENGTHEN THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION.
3. THE WHITE PAPER HAS BEEN DISCUSSED DURING THE PAST WEEK BY:
Con is
(A) FOUR FURTHER DISTRICT BOARDS, ALL OF WHICH HAVE GENERALLY ENDORSED AND COMMENDED IT (THOUGH SOME MEMBERS CALLED FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION OF PARTICULAR ISSUES, PARTICULARLY THOSE MENTIONED IN PARAGRAPH 2 ABOVE). THE REMAINING NINE DISTRICT BOARDS WILL MEET DURING THE NEXT FORTNIGHT.
(B) THE URBAN COUNCIL. 21 COUNCILLORS SUPPORTED A MOTION WELCOMING THE AGREEMENT, WITH ONE ABSTENTION. BUT INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN ON PARTICULAR POINTS, INCLUDING NATIONALITY, ACCOUNATBILITY OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE, AND IMPORTANCE OF ASSOCIATING HONG KONG PEOPLE WITH DRAFTING THE BASIC LAW.
(C) HEUNG YEE KUK (A NEW TERRITORIES STATUTORY BODY) ALSO EXPRESSED SATISFACTION. THE CHAIRMAN TOLD THE PRESS AFTERWARDS THAT THE RESPONSE TO THE JOINT DECLARATION FROM THE NEW TERRITORIES WAS MORE THAN SATISFACTORY, ESPECIALLY ON THE LAND ISSUE. A NUMBER OF MEMBERS EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT, IF PEOPLE COULD BE SURE THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TRAVEL FREELY AFTER 1997, THEY WOULD NOT WANT TO LEAVE HONG KONG PERMANENTLY.
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