CONFIDENTIAL
3.
As Mr Paul says, the main advantage of this otherwise unwelcome over-heating of the political atmosphere is that the CRC and their sympathisers are now prepared to say what they think publicly, not just behind closed doors. The
ambiguity is now rather in the liberal camp. The logic of their position on democracy and membership of ExCo is that
they are prepared to risk a serious row with China and
uncertainty over key aspects of the transition. It is
unlikely that any of them in fact want that, but if they admit it publicly the intellectual coherence of their
position is shot to pieces.
4.
In the longer term our problem may turn out to be not that the United Democrats oblige us to 'confront' China, but
that they lose heart, and the values they stand for fade
away in Hong Kong.
K. Sanders
KAM Saunders
An interesting and useful assessment.
It is very striking to see
Exco menters who are
Now
in today's FT that
members of crec have
broken ranks with the Government on He
cost of Ha Airport Railway. What price collective responsibillas!
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