GRS 400
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FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 22083OZ FCO
TELNO 2722
OF 220749Z AUGUST 86
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See B51
HKK ON/I
REG.20
་༥;
27 AUG 1986
FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR HUM, HKD, FROM ACTING GOVERNOR.
PLEASE PASS TO GOVERNOR.
MARTIN LEE HAD HOPED BY A WRITTEN REQUEST TO SUCCEED IN FORCING
S L CHEN TO CALL AN URGENT HIN-HOUSE MEETING OF LEGCO AT WHICH HE
WAS THINKING OF TRYING TO RALLY SUPPORT TO USE THE P AND P ORDINANCE
TO OBTAIN ACCESS TO LAZARDS REPORT AND OTHER PAPERS. S L CHEN REPLIED
TO THE EFFECT THAT SINCE THE LEGCO MISSIONS WOULD BE REPORTING ON 3
SEPTEMBER HE SAW NO NEED FOR A MEETING. LEE CHANGED TACK YESTERDAY
AFTERNOON AND ANNOUNCED TO A PRE-ARRANGED PRESS CONFERENCE THAT HE
WISHED THE GOVERNOR TO CONVENE A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL UNDER SECTION 7A OF STANDING ORDERS TO DISCUSS THE DAYA BAY
ISSUE ON THE GROUNDS THAT THIS WAS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. HE SAID
HE HAD SUGGESTED THIS AT A (LONG STANDING) LUNCH WITH ME. HE DID
NOT MAKE A FORMAL REQUEST AT LUNCH BUT COUCHED HIS ENQUIRY IN
GENERAL TERMS. COUNSELLED THAT HE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THE REPORTS
WERE MADE PUBLIC AND MEMBERS HAD TIME TO STUDY THEM. HE SAID HE
COULD NOT ACCEPT THIS COURSE OF ACTION BASICALLY BECAUSE OF HIS
MISTRUST OF THOSE WHO WENT ON THE MISSIONS · THEY WERE LED BY
APPOINTED EXCO MEMBERS NFLUENCED BY CHINA ETC. HIS OBJECTIVE NOW
IS NOT TO PURSUE THE P AND P ROUTE BUT TO GET LEGCO HN OPEN SESSION
TO CHALLENGE THE DECISIONS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO PRESS GOVERNMENT
TO WITHDRAW SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT AT WHATEVER COST, HIS ASSUMPTION
BEING THAT IF HONG KONG DID NOT BUY POWER FROM THE PLANT CHINA WOULD
NOT PROCEED.
2. HIS REQUEST MADE HEADLINES THIS MORNING AND THIS AND HIS GENERAL
ATTITUDE IS CAUSING GREAT DISQUIET AMONG MODERATE MEMBERS OF COUNCILS
WHO SEE THIS AS AN ATTEMPT TO DIVIDE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AS AN
ATTACK ON THE AUTHORITY OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND TO CONFRONT
CHINA.
3. COUNCILLORS SAY THEY ARE BEING PUT PLANTED QUESTIONS BY THE MEDIA
PHRASED IN THE FOLLOWING WAY QUOTE HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE AGAINST
DAYA BAY WHAT IS YOUR STAND ARE YOU FOR OR AGAINST THE PEOPLE.
UNQUOTE.
4. AFTER CONSULTATION MY RESPONSE TO MEDIA ENQUIRIES 4-5 4N MIFT.
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