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THAT THE EMPHASIS ON SINO-HK RELATIONS SHOULD BE SEEN AS A GOOD START. LOCAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE FINANCIAL TIMES JOHN ELLIOT SAID THAT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE SPEECH WAS CERTAINLY ON CHINA, IN WHICH THE GOVERNOR WARNED CHINA NOT TO GIVE A VETO OVER DECISIONS.
BILL OF RIGHTS
5. THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONSIDERING REVISING THE PROPOSED BILL OF RIGHTS TO COUNTER FEARS THAT THE BILL WOULD RESULT IN A FLOOD OF UNNECESSARY LITIGATION AGAINST BUSINESSES, THE SCM POST REPORTED (11.10). THE PAPER SAID THAT OFFICIALS WERE ASSESSING WHETHER IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE TO DELAY THE APPLICATION OF SEVERAL CONTROVERSIAL PROVISIONS IN THE BILL TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION. THE PAPER NOTED THAT THE HK ASSOCIATION OF BANKS WAS UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE MADE A SUBMISSION ON THE BILL, BASED ON COMMENTS BY A LEADING QUEEN'S COUNCIL, ANTHONY LESTER. THE EMPLOYER'S FEDERATION GAVE A WARNING THAT IF THE PROVISION WHICH ALLOWED THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO BE SUED FOR VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS REMAINED, ITS CONSEQUENCES FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY COULD BE GRAVE AND FAR-REACHING.
COURT OF FINAL APPEAL
6. THE HK ECONOMIC JOURNAL (15.10), QUOTING BRITISH SOURCES, SAID THAT THE BRITISH HAD ALREADY FORMULATED A PACKAGE OF PLANS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL AND EXPECTED THAT THE MATTER COULD BE RESOLVED AT THE LAST ROUND OF JLG MEETING. HOWEVER, THE CHINESE SAID THAT THESE DETAILS SHOULD BE FURTHER CLARIFIED AND REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE PLANS PUT FORWARD BY THEIR COUNTERPARTS.
AIRPORT
7. MANY REPORTS (13.10) HIGHLIGHTED CHIEF SECRETARY SIR DAVID FORD'S REMARKS THAT THERE WAS A REAL NEED FOR HK TO BUILD A REPLACEMENT AIRPORT, AND THE ARRANGEMENT FOR PART OF THE AIRPORT TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE 1997 WAS NOT A POLITICAL CONSIDERATION. WHILE ADMITTING THAT CHINA, AS SOVEREIGN STATE OF HK AFTER 1997, HAD AN INTEREST IN THE AIRPORT PROJECT, SIR DAVID REITERATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST HAVE ITS AUTONOMY AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO DECIDE ON THE AIRPORT PROJECT.
8. DIRECTOR OF THE HK AND MACAU AFFAIRS OFFICE JI PENG FEI SAID THAT THE UNILATERAL ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HK GOVERNMENT THAT HK WOULD FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING ON ITS OWN PRIOR TO THE VISIT OF CHINESE EXPERTS WAS VERY IMPROPER,
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