IMPRESSIONS /2:
BARRIE WIGGHAM/AUST PAGE 4
If Barrie had been Australian, he would not have had the credibility he has as a Britisher representing what is seen here as the last days of a Colonial Government. He is an appointed official, not an elected representative, so he is not a politician (although he can. be excused as a diplomat). More importantly, he is not another Hong Kong trade official, or a Hong Kong investment official, here to convince people to commit more money or assets to Hong Kong. We presented Barrie as a British-born official of the Hong Kong Government an official who was directly involved with the Chinese on the future of Hong Kong and therefore could be expected to have intimate knowledge of the state of negotiations and the mood of the Chinese. How much he could be drawn on such matters was up to those who questioned him but it was made clear that he was here to have an exchange of views, not to lecture.
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Where Barrie has won the respect of business and media is his ability to take the answer to the hard question a little further than might be expected without going over the edge in terms of confidences yet backgrounding the subject with in-depth knowledge of relevant circumstances. He has been able to inform people in two-way exchanges yet leave them with the impression that he knows much more than he is prepared to say. At the same time, he has not stuck to a prepared script.
In the speeches and in 10-minute opening briefings, he has been able to clearing demonstrate, without consciously doing so, that he has an empathy with the people of Hong Kong: that although he is British, he understands their feelings/frustrations/moods in the current situation and that, because of his intimate dealings with the Chinese side, he is reasonably confident that the intentions of the Basic Law will be adhered to.
It has been obvious in many of his discussions that the Australian audience is easily able to relate to his concept of the new generation of Hong Kong-born people feeling let down by the events of June; of his obvious feeling for the psychological effect on the younger generation.
On the other hand, many (and there are many) ill-informed Australians have been astounded to learn that the first Governor of Hong Kong post-1997 will have a Hong Kong residency qualification of 20 years; that Hong Kong police will replace the British Army on the border; that Australian judges may sit in Hong Kong courts post-1997; that Hong Kong shall not pay taxes to China; and so on.
The media has responded particularly to two concepts: (1) the younger Hong Kong-born generation scenario and (2) the forced repatriation of Mainland Chinese while Vietnamese remain in Hong Kong. The first has generated, for want of a better phrase, a "warmth" of understanding; the second, almost disbelief that this has been going on and that they were not aware of it.
In summary: We have caused people to question their own assumptions and pre-conceptions. To ask themselves and their colleagues new questions. But it is a psychological reaction not unlike an intense management training course. The lesson is quickly forgotten unless their is continuity, and follow-up.