-
- 11
兕
provisions of the Sino-British Agreement. Sir Edward Youde, for example, pointed out that "one of the things happening today is that
certain important facts are being overlooked. The Basic Law must be
drafted by the Chinese Government and the National People's Congress.
It should embody the contents of the Agreement". Principal Assistant
Secretary for Administrative Services and Information, LEE Lap-sun,
pointed out that "the administrative reforms are already being implemented at great speed and should not be undertaken with undue
haste; otherwise, the effect will only run contrary to the purpose „
He also said that "the review on administrative reforms cannot run
counter to the Sino-British Joint Declaration. To regard the drafting
of the Basic Law as non-existent is a most foolish measure. And Sir
David Akers-Jones went further to remark that "clearly changes are
required to bring Hong Kong's government structure into line with the
Joint Declaration." In otherwords, if this development continues and
if China does not agree, or simply refuses to 'shunt' onto the
representative system, British will find itself in a rather passive
position.
H
On the eve of Timothy Renton's visit to Hong Kong, a number
of officials with different political inclinations spoke out one after
another and were often at odds with one another. This serves to show
that the internal conflicts in the Hong Kong Government and in
Whitehall can no longer be settled behind closed doors. These officials
had to resort to public speeches in a bid to canvase support from the
public sector.
Implication behind Xu Jiatun's remark
During this sensitive period, Xu Jiatun also openly touched on the question of political system for the first time on 7 October. But he did so in a tactful manner, expressly stating China's firm
position and, at the same time, seening to refrain from commenting on
the political reforms initiated by the British.
/ ...