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FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 111200Z FCO
TELNO 608
OF 111045Z FEBRUARY 88
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REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT:
MEDIA COVERAGE AND COMMENTS
WHITE PAPER:
COVERAGE IN THE MEDIA
THE WHITE PAPER WAS ACCORDED MASSIVE YESTERDAY (10 FEBRUARY) EVENING AND TODAY.
THE
2. PRESS REPORTS ARE GENERALLY FACTUAL AND STRAIGHTFORWARD. THEY ALSO GAVE THE CHIEF SECRETARY'S STATEMENT A GOOD RUN. EDITORIALS OF MAJOR PAPERS WERE MODERATE IN TONE, AND MOST OF THEM WERE POSITIVE. THE MAINSTREAM VIEW SEEMED TO BE THAT THE DEBATE OVER THE GREEN PAPER SHOULD NOW BE BEHIND US: THAT THE WHITE PAPER GAVE A SOBER ASSESSMENT OF THE TASKS AHEAD: THAT THE INTERESTS OF HK PEOPLE HAD BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT: AND THAT ATTENTION SHOULD NOW BE TURNED TO THE BASIC LAW TO ENSURE THAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS WOULD BE ALONG THE RIGHT LINES.
3. POLITICAL COMMENTATORS/COLUMNISTS IN A NUMBER OF PAPERS WERE LESS POSITIVE THAN THE EDITORIALS. MANY SAW THE WHITE PAPER AS A CONFIRMATION THAT CHINA HAD SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED PRESSURE TO PREVENT DIRECT ELECTIONS BEING INTRODUCED BEFORE THE PROMULGATION OF THE BASIC LAW, AND THAT THE CHINESE, BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS HAD ALL IGNORED PUBLIC OPINION. THIS SENTIMENT WAS SHARED BY MOST ACADEMICS WHOSE VIEWS WERE REPORTED, THOUGH SOME HAVE DESCRIBED THE WHITE PAPER AS AN ACCEPTABLE COMPROMISE.
4. THE DISAPPOINTMENT EXPRESSED BY MARTIN LEE'S GROUP WAS SIDELY REPORTED. BUT THERE IS NO (NO) VIOLENT REACTION. REPORTS ON THE VIEWS OF OTHER LEGCO MEMBERS SUPPORTING THE WHITE PAPER QUITE EFFECTIVELY COUNTERBALANCED LEE'S CRITICISMS.
5. ALTHOUGH VIEWS ARE MANY AND MIXED, THE OVERALL PICTURE IS A CALM ONE. WE KNOW, HOWEVER THAT THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON
• PROMOTION OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT WILL BE ORGANISING A PROCESSION TO PETITION AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE ON SUNDAY 14 FEBRUARY SOME BITTER COMMENTS FROM URBAN COUNCILLORS ARE ALSO EXPECTED IN THE UC DEBATE THIS AFTERNOON. THE HEUNG YEE KUK, HAVING FAILED TO GAIN A FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY SEAT, MAY ALSO BE LOOKING FOR WAYS
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