}
*
****
CONFIDENTIAL
OPINION AT LOCAL LEVEL
5. REPORTS FROM DISTRICT OFFICERS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT SOURCES INDICATE INCREASING NERVOUSNESS. WHILE COMPARATIVELY FEW CONTACTS CLAIMED TO BE PLANNING EMIGRATION THEMSELVES, EVERYBODY KNEW PEOPLE WHO WERE DOING SO. THERE AS SIGNS THAT KMT SUPPORTERS AND LEFT- WINGERS ARE PREPARING FOR 1985 DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS AND THERE ARE NERVOUS PREDICTIONS OF INCREASING POLITICAL POLARISATION.
GREEN PAPER ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
6. FIRST REACTIONS WERE GENERALLY AS EXPRECTED. IT HAS BEEN BROADLY WELCOMED BY UNOFFICIALS, PROGESSIONAL GROUPS AND BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS, BUT CRITICISED AS INADEQUATE AND OVER-CAUTIOUS BY PRESSURE-GROUP PERSONALITIES.
ASSESSMENT OF VIEWS ON SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT.
7. THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT A SPECIAL OFFICE WOULD DE SET UP IN HONG KONG TO COLLATE AND ASSESS VIEWS ON A SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT HAS NOT YET BEEN FULLY DIGESTED. INITIAL INTEREST AMONGST A FEW PRESSURE GROUPS HAS CENTRED ON THE DECISION NOT TO HAVE A REFERENDUM. SOME HAVE EXPRESSED UNDERSTANDING OF THE DECISON, OTHERS HAVE CRITICISED IT.
j
BRAY
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISERS (SIR J FREELAND) PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
SIR C TICKELL MR GOODALL
COPIES TO:
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO:- (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT
MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS
MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS
MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST.
MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST.
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFIC
MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN
CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE
PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P, CRADOCK ROOM K195
SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.
CONFIDENTIAL