Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will have to set up new institutions which are.
There is nothing unexpected about these remarks, which represent
the familiar views of the Chinese Government. We shall have to
wait to see how the argument develops; it will probably not progress much further till next week's Party Congress in Peking is out of the way and the Governor has paid his visit to China
(due 20-24 Oct). Meanwhile Mr Patten has valuable time in which to promote and explain his policies to the people of Hong Kong.
Initial reactions in Hong Kong have been overwhelmingly favourable. Opinion surveys record a 75-80% approval rating for the address as a whole; on Mr Patten's approach to China there is 50% support.
Individual politicians, who might have been expected to sound a sour note, (eg Allen Lee and Selina Chow, who have been removed from ExCo) have made helpful remarks. Lady Dunn described the
address as "ambitious and vital". Predictably the United
Democrats have expressed disappointment over the decision to
exclude legislators from ExCo. Martin Lee's article in the Guardian (7 Oct) took up this point, complaining that it showed
unwillingness to stand up to Peking. But Emily Lau, while
maintaining her pitch for full direct elections has been more positive. Martin Barrow, representing the business community, has been supportive; and the Hang Seng index has risen by 41
points since Mr Patten's speech and now stands at 5596.
Media response in Hong Kong has varied according to political affiliation, with the non-communist press being generally favourable, though picking up more on domestic issues. The two English language papers have been unusually supportive, describing the address as 'bold and courageous' (the South China
Morning Post) and 'daring and caring' (the Hong Kong Standard).
reactions.PR.JRB
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