SEP 09 '96 16:02 TIB(OOU) HK GOVT
P.6
· 5-
As to the Hongkong Government, the fact finding delegations
do not ask the Executive Council to withdraw the decision to approve the contract of purchase of nuclear power, and they do not make any demande that embarrass Chine. So the major problem is how to make the majority of members of the Legislative Council accept the report of the fact finding delegations. As far as this problem is concerned, it is believed that the Hongkong Government has some confidence. Firstly, it seems that the report of the fact finding delegations is quite reasonable. Secondly, many people are beginning to tire of the controversy since the nuclear storm started months ago. Thirdly, half of the members of the Legislative Council are appointed. Even if they cannot be ordered to accept the report they can be requested to do so, Besides, not every elected member agrees to Martin Lee's way of doing things.
The majority of members would be won over to accept the report
It is unfortunate that those appointed members who are also members of the Executive Council and the other appointed members should have become the targets of criticisms and attacks in this incident. To the anti-nuclear lobbyists, it is basically against the principle not to start with 'whether it is necessary to shelve the project'. But, in the opinion of the Legco members of the fact finding delegations, if the target is to do the best to fight for the benefits of the Hongkong people, it is necessary to find a way that could succeed. Compromise is inevitable, and if one insists on fighting for something that can never be obtained, the result would be that he can get nothing at all. If one insists on strong opposition, he would destroy everything eventually. The method being adopted would secure greater protection for the people of Hongkong.
The weakness of this attitude is that nobody could know beforehand which are the things that can never be obtained. And, rather die with integrity and honour intact than to live in shame and dishonour is a principle many people commend. There are always different views as to which
of the two attitudes is wiser. But, it is believed the result of the Daya Bay controversy is already very obvious.