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FOR THE FORMATION OF THE FIRST SARG. IT ALSO REPORTED THAT THE GEC CONCEPT WAS NO LONGER FAVOURED, INSTEAD THE BRITISH SIDE WERE TRYING TO REVIVE THE PROPOSAL FOR A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM.
·
5 THE GOVERNOR'S REMARKS ON THE PROVISIONS IN CHAPTER V OF THE DRAFT BL CONTINUED TO ATTRACT MEDIA COMMENTS. FURTHER TO OUR TELNO 2817, AN ARTICLE IN THE HK ECONOMIC JOURNAL (28 JULY), QUOTING CHINESE SOURCES, SAID THAT BY POINTING OUT IN PUBLIC THE DEFECTS OF THE DRAFT BL, THE BRITISH SIDE HAD BROKEN THE RULE OF ''NOT (NOT) INTERFERING WITH THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF THE OTHER PARTY' THIS COULD NOW GIVE A PRETEXT FOR FUTURE INTERVENTION IN HK'S INTERNAL
AFFAIRS BY THE CHINESE SIDE. OTHERWISE, COMMENTATORS GENERALLY FELT THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD AIRED THE MAJORITY VIEWS IN HK AND THAT HIS REMARKS HAD FCO'S BACKING. A FEW COMMENTARIES REGRETTED THAT THE GOVERNOR DID NOT (NOT) TOUCH ON THE DEFICIENCIES IN THE OTHER, AND MORE CRUCIAL, AREAS IN THE DRAFT BL, SUCH AS THE HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY AND THE POLITICAL SYSTEM.
6. THE RECENTLY RELEASED BLCC PRELIMINARY REPORT ON PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS ON THE DRAFT BL WAS UNDER HEAVY FIRE FROM THE LIBERALS. THE REPORT WAS CRITICISED FOR HAVING FAILED TO INDICATE THE TREND OF
PUBLIC OPINION ON THOSE PROBLEMATIC PROVISION.
7. ON THE DB FRONT, THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DB HAS PASSED A MOTION, EXPRESSING THE CONCERN THAT THE PROVISIONS IN THE DRAFT BL WOULD CURTAIL THE HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY OF THE SAR. IN SPITE OF THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES ORGANIZED BY CONCERN GROUPS TO PROMOTE THE BL, RESPONSE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC REMAINED MUTED.
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