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Lu Ping passed brief but acid comment on Japan. He
responded readily to a suggestion from Mr. Boyd that he
should meet with FS Designate, given the enormous importance
of the financial sector for Hong Kong and in relations with
China. CS mentioned the key importance of this sector.
Hong Kong was part of a global banking system. Indeed
without our financial system there would arguably be no
Hong Kong.
15.
CS praised the centre for the performing arts.
Wong was currently doing an exercise on its role.
Miss
Fundamentally
however it was a magnificent asset going beyond Hong Kong's own
needs and likely to serve a wider regional, and particularly
Chinese interest.
Given its facilities, and the quality of
its teaching staff, this had much to offer young people from all
over China.
16.
After dinner CS raised direct elections. There was
strong local pressures to proceed in this direction.
Lu Ping
said immediately that direct elections would lead to political
parties which would prejudice stability. CS disputed this.
Hong Kong was not likely to have parties in the conventional
sense. To establish them was no part of the Hong Kong
Government's objectives. Personally he rather anticipated
coalitions forming around personalities.
alitions too were inherently unstable.
personally advocate direct elections.
Lu said that co-
CS said he did not
Given the importance
of the business community, society could not be "ruled by
This
social workers". It was vital to maintain stability.
said there were pressures which would need to be accommodated in
some way. The question was how.
17.
Lu Ping asked about a ministerial system. CS replied
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