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MDHIAN 5428
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 271200Z FCO
TELNO 3618
OF 271055Z SEPTEMBER 88
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
@
HKB 011/8
RECEIVED IN RECISTRY
2 8 SEP 1988
N
YOUR TELNO 2499: LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTION
THE
THE REDUCTION IN NUMBERS OF THOSE FROM THE ''LIBERAL CAMP' IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE WAS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FACTORS.
MAIN ONE IS PROBABLY THAT DB MEMBERS, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE CONSERVATIVE OR MODERATE, WERE GENERALLY NOT (NOT) INCLINED TO SUPPORT CANDIDATES WITH RADICAL VIEWS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAD BEEN PARTICULARLY STRIDENT IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. ANOTHER FACTOR IS THAT, ON THE WHOLE, CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES ON THIS OCCASION ORGANISED THEIR ELECTION CAMPAIGNS MORE EFFECTIVELY, FORMED THEMSELVES INTO GROUPS TO GIVE EACH OTHER BACKING, AND IN SOME CASES OBTAINED THE SUPPORT OF THE INFLUENTIAL RURAL LOBBY OR
PRO-CHINA ELEMENTS.
2. THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITIVES AND THEIR
CONSTITUENCIES WAS AN EQUALLY, IF NOT MORE IMPORTANT FACTOR. FOR EXAMPLE:
A
(A) IN WONG TAI SIN, MICHAEL CHENG CASHED IN ON THE ELECTORATE'S UNHAPPINESS WITH CONRAD LAM'S CONFRONTATIONAL MANNER AND THE DISRESPECT HE WAS CONSIDERED TO SHAVE SHOWN TOWARDS THE LATE SIR EDWARD YOUDE IN ONE LEGCO INCIDENT IN 1986. CHENG ALSO OBTAINED THE BACKING OF PRO-CHINA ELEMENTS.
(B)
IN NT SOUTH, RICHARD LAI FELL OUT WITH THE RURAL COMMITTEES.
(C) IN HK ISLAND EAST, THE CONSTITUENCY IS COMPOSED OF TWO DISTRICT BOARDS, EASTERN AND WAN CHAI. THE WAN CHAI DB GENERALLY FELT THAT DESMOND LEE HAD NOT ACTED AS ITS REPRESENTATIVE DURING HIS TERM OF OFFICE. ITS CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM, WHO WAS LEE'S OPPONENT IN 1985 BUT WHO DID NOT STAND THIS YEAR, MUSTERED SUPPORT FOR LEE'S OPPONENT.
IN
(D) THE FIERCE CONTEST BETWEEN LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES SOME DISTRICTS ALSO PRODUCED COMPROMISE CANDIDATES, E.G. MRS.
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