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PUBLICLY ACCUSED US OF QUOTE DEVIATIONS FROM THE JOINT
DECLARATION UNQUOTE, A STATEMENT WHICH SERIOUSLY JOLTED
CONFIDENCE. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOW DONE MUCH TO RE-ESTABLISH A
RELATIONSHIP OF MUTUAL TRUST OVER THESE ISSUES, CHINESE NERVOUSNESS REMAINS.
24.
THE CHINESE CONCERNS APPEAR TO BE TWOFOLD. THE CHINESE
DO NOT WANT US TO ANNOUNCE DECISIONS ABOUT MAJOR CONSTITUTIONAL
CHANGE (IN PARTICULAR OVER DIRECT ELECTIONE TO THE LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL) IN ADVANCE OF THE PROMULGATION OF THE BASIC LAW IN 1990.
THEY FEAR THAT THE IMPRESSION COULD BE GIVEN THAT IMPORTANT
PROVISIONS IN THE BASIC LAW HAD BEEN IMPOSED ON THEM BY OUR
PRE-EMPTIVE ACTION THROUGH THE REVIEW. THEY WANT TO AVOID A
CHOICE BETWEEN MAKING STIPULATIONS IN THE BASIC LAW WHICH ARE IN
ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH THE PREVAILING CONSTITUTIONAL
& TRUCTURE IN HONG KONG AND INCORPORATING STIPULATIONS WHICH THEY
DO NOT DESIRE. ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION THEY HAVE SAID
EXPLICITLY THAT, IF FACED WITH SUCH A CHOICE, THEY WOULD GO FOR
THE FORMER OPTION. ON THE SUBSTANCE, THEY FEAR INSTABILITY AND
THE DIVISIVE EFFECTS OF PARTY POLITICE.
25.
THE CHINESE HAVE LONG HAD STRONG MISGIVINGS ABOUT DIRECT
ELECTIONS (ALTHOUGH, AS NOTED BELOW, THEY MAINTAIN TO US THAT
THEY ARE NOT OPPOSED TO THEM IN PRINCIPLE). THEIR CONCERN ABOUT
THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF DIRECT ELECTIONS APPEARS TO HAVE GROWN IN
THE PAST FEW MONTHS, PROBABLY AS A RESULT OF DIVISIONE AND
CONFRONTATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OVER CONSTRUCTION OF THE
DAYA BAY NUCLEAR PLANT IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE OF CHINA, NEAR HONG
KONG. HONG KONG BUSINESS LEADERS IN CONTACT WITH THE CHINESE
TEND TO OPPOSE DIRECT ELECTIONS AND TO TELL THEM SO. MOREOVER,
THE SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE DRAFTING
THE RELEVANT SECTION OF THE BASIC LAW AT PRESENT HAS A MAJORITY
OF HONG KONG MEMBERS AGAINST DIRECT ELECTIONS. (CHINESE MEMBERS
DO NOT FORMALLY EXPRESS AN OPINION, BUT MAY BE ASSUMED TO REFLECT THE VIEW OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.)
EXCHANGES WITH THE CHINESE
24.
IN ORDER TO OVERCOME THIS MISTRUST AND LESSEN THE RISK OF
CONFLICT OVER THE 1987 REVIEW AND THE BASIC LAW WE HAVE SOUGHT
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