SECRET
6. **N LEGCO THE NEW ELECTED MEMBERS ARE CONSCIOUS OF THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES TO THEIR CONSTITUENCIES. SOME IDENTIFY THEMSELVES
LESS CLOSELY WITH GOVERNMENT POLICY THAN DID THEIR APPOINTED
COLLEGAUES. SOME SEEK TO USE THEIR STATUS TO FURTHER POLITICAL AMBITIONS. SOME ARE DISPOSED TO CREATE OR PROMOTE CONTROVERSY,
A ROLE IN WHICH THEY ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE MEDIA. THE GREAT MAJORITY
BEHAVE RESPONSIBLY. BUT THEY TOO MUST NOW HAVE MORE REGARD TO THEIR
OWN STANDING IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC. THIS HAS COMPLICATED THE
ROLE OF EXCO MEMBERS WHO ALSO SERVE IN LEGCO.
7. THE LEGASLATIVE COUNCIL IS NOW HIGHLY VISIBLE ON THE HONG KONG
SCENE. IT STALL WORKS EFFICIENTLY. BUT THE BURDEN WHICH FALLS ON
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND ITS SENIOR OFFICIALS IN PRESENTING, EXPLAINING AND DEFENDING GOVERNMENT POLICIES HAS INCREASED
SUBSTANTIALLY. THE COUNCIL, LIKE THE PUBLIC, HIS MUCH LESS DISPOSED TO ACCEPT, WITHOUT FULL EXPLANATION, THAT THE HONG KONG OR BRITISH GOVERNMENTS KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR HONG KONG. CONFIDENTIAL
CONSULTATION WITH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS A THING OF THE PAST.
THE COUNCIL'S ROLE AS CONTROLLER OF THE PUBLIC PURSE IS MORE PUBLICLY
EVIDENT: IT ALONE CAN VOTE FUNDS FOR GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE (A POWER
WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY INTO ACCOUNT IN THE
RE-NEGOTIATION OF THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT NEXT YEAR). THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS NO MAJORITY' IN THE COUNCIL AND CAN
ONLY LEGISLATE THROUGH A CONSTANT SEARCH FOR CONSENSUS ON MAJOR
SSUES.
8. INCREASED POLITICAL AWARENESS HAS BEEN GIVEN EXPRESSION THROUGH
A GREATER RANGE AND INTENSITY OF PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF EVEN THE
MOST SENSITIVE ISSUES: THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND THE BASIC LAW, THE RELATIONSHIP WITH LONDON AND PEKING, CIVIL RIGHTS, THE PUBLIC FINANCES AND MANY OTHER SUBJECTS ARE OPENLY DEBATED THROUGH THE
PRESS, PUBLIC SEMINARS, AND LIVE DISCUSSION ON TELEVISION. DISTRICT
BOARD MEETINGS HAVE BECOME A SOUNDING BOARD FOR PUBLIC OPINION ON
MANY CURRENT CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES.
9. THE FORTHCOMING CHANGE TO CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY, NOW JUST OVER ELEVEN YEARS AWAY, HAS ADDED A MAJOR NEW DIMENSION TO THE POLITICAL
SCENE. THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW CREATED
A DIRECT LINE OF CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IN PEKING AND THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY. FOR SOME THE INFLUENCE OF
CHINA ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE IS ALRAEADY MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT
OF HMG. FOR THE PR PART THE CHINESE ARE HAVING TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE OPEN EXPRESSION OF OPINION IN HONG KONG. ANY IMPRESSION THAT
HT WILL BE IGNORED LEADS TO OUTCRY AND PREDICTIONS OF LOSS OF
CONFIDENCE IN CHINESE INTENTIONS.
10. 1997 IS ALSO A PERVASIVE FACTOR IN PUBLIC ATTITUDES ON MANY OTHER ISSUES. THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IS, FOR AN ARTICULATE MINORITY, NOT ONLY NECESSARY ON ITS MERITS, BUT THE ONLY MEANS OF GIVING HONG KONG'S FUTURE POLITICAL LEADERS LEGITIMACY AND STRENGTH TO RESIST INTERFERENCE FROM PEKING AFTER
SECRET
1 1997