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RECORD OF CALL ON MR GOODLAD BY THE HON MICHAEL SZE, ISO, JP, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT: 30 NOVEMBER 1992
1. Those present: Mr Goodlad
Mr Ricketts
Mr Sze
Mr Dorey
2. Mr Goodlad asked about the political atmosphere in Hong Kong. Mr Sze believed that the community still strongly supported the Governor's proposals (despite a recent poll suggesting otherwise). But support was being eroded by Chinese attacks and because some mainstream Chinese newspapers were wavering. Against this, there was a strong coalition in LegCo in favour of the proposals. If this and positive public opinion - could be maintained, there would be sufficient votes to pass constitutional legislation next year. This would probably be introduced in February/March resulting in a big battle which could continue until the end of the session in July. The opposition would use every available tactic. In the case of the recent debate on the airport platform, it had not been clear until the last minute that the Government could muster enough votes (though it had not been necessary to use officials' votes).
3. Mr Goodlad wondered whether the Cooperative Resources Centre was a lost cause. Mr Sze said they could not be trusted. They had deliberately misled the Government by saying at first they would support them on the airport platform. But the Government needed to keep the CRC on side on other issues (despite the Governor's own inclination to side-line them) where Liberal support was difficult. The Chinese were playing very tough. Swires, Jardines etc would all have their arms twisted in the run-up to 1997.
4.
Mr Goodlad asked how decisions on future contracts would be played. Mr Sze did not see this as a big problem.
The Chinese did not have a leg to stand on on Container Terminal There were not many new franchises coming up in the next few years and in some cases the Chinese would be harming their own friends if they were too unhelpful.
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5. Mr Sze said that ExCo was proving more supportive, although C H Tung, Mr Purves and Baroness Dunn could not be relied on on every issue. Mr Ricketts commented that ExCo unofficials had not seemed to be speaking up in public much over recent weeks Mr Sze argued that the traditional
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On CT9 they already are. (wharf,
Hurchison)
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