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10. OUR OVERALL ASSESSMENT IS THAT, AS WITH DAYA BAY, THIS WAS AN ISSUE IN WHICH GENUINE CONCERNS FELT BY A SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY WERE BLOWN UP BY A SMALL GROUP WHO HAD THE LONG-TERM AIMS OF DISCREDITING THE ADMINISTRATION AND INTRODUCING A MORE POPULIST AND CONFRONTATIONAL STYLE OF POLITICS IN HONG KONG. THE TACTICS USED BY THE OPPONENTS TO THE BILL ARE FAMILIAR FROM SOCIAL WORK THEORY AND FROM EARLIER ISSUES SUCH AS THE POWERS AND PRIV-
ILEGES ACT, COMMERCIAL CRIMES AND DAYA BAY. IN THIS CASE, THE ISSUES WERE INFLAMED BY A DEEP-SEATED CONCERN OVER HOW WILLING THE POST-1997 GOVERNMENT WILL BE TO MAINTAIN INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS IN HONG KONG AND BY THE FACT THAT IT WAS THE MEDIA ITSELF THAT WAS DIRECTLY AFFECTED.
11.
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THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS OF THE ROW ARE DIFFICULT TO JUDGE AT THIS STAGE. CERTAINLY IT WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF OCCASIONS ON WHICH THE MARTINE LEE DEMOCRACY' FACTION CONFRONTED AN ''UNREPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. BUT OUR BELIEF IS THAT THE DOWNSIDE RISKS OF WITHDRAWING OR EVEN POSTPONING THE BILL WOULD HAVE BEEN GREATER. IT WAS MOST NECESSARY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO SUPPORT THE MAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND THIS VIEW WAS CONFIRMED BY MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. OTHERWISE IT WOULD HAVE MEANT BACKING DOWN UNDER PRESSURE: FURTHER ADJOURNMENT WOULD HAVE ESCALATED THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE BILL AND WOULD HAVE LED TO EVEN MORE SERIOUS CONFRONTATION. THE MAJORITY OF UNOFF- ICIALS WOULD HAVE FELT LET DOWN AND BETRAYED, AND THE BALANCE AND CHARACTER OF LEGCO WOULD HAVE CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.
AKERS-JONES
YYYY
HMLNAN 0049
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
•HD/NEWS D.
HD/FED
RESEARCH D. (FE)
DEP.HD/PUSD
PS/MR RENTON
SIR. D. WILSON MR GILLMORE
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
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