P.001/006
Do
07-OCT-1992. 17:26
1992-10-07 2212
Last night's TV and Radio Coverage of the Policy Addrags
ATTN: MR PETER RICKETS, HEAD, HKD, FCO.
COVERAGE
The delivery of the policy speech by Mr Pattan in Legco dominated the news in the electronic media. The speech and the Governor's press confurones were broadcast live on almost all channels of TV and radio, with some of them carrying reactions by commentators immediately after the live broadcasts.
The policy speech received blanket coverage in the main news casts and was featured in a number of public affairs programmes. The press conference was also broadcast live by BBC World Service on Star TV.
While most reports played up Mr Patten's plans for political reform, increases in spending on welfare and education were also widely noted. A number of reports led with the separation of Exco and Legco and an announcement on the new Exco line-up, Statements by the NCNA HK branch and British Prime Minister John Major were also prominently reported. It was noted that Mr Patton had responded to the NCNA statement.
REACTIONS
Chinese side: The NCNA HK Branch, in a strongly-worded statement, said that major changes in the transition leading to an undermining of HK's administrative structure would be against the Joint Declaration. A spokesman said that arrangements for tha 1995 alections should be
The discussed with the Chinese sida before they were announced. British alde had now ignored the views of the Chinese side and had disclosed the arrangements in the form of proposels. This had been "Irresponsible and indiscreet", the statement said.
Chinese sources were quoted by ATV as saying that it had been inappropriate for the British to "confirm" the arrangements for the 1995 polls, chat would straddle 1997, before discussing them with the Chinese side. For example, the question of single-seat, single-vote system had not been discussed between the two sides, On the formation of the Election Committee mostly by elected DB members, the sources said that the Basle Law had stipulated that the relevant electoral college in 1999 should comprise legislators, people from various sectors, professionals and CPPCC members, An increase in the number of directly elected seats for the municipal councils would make the councila, which according to the Basic Law were meant to be district bodies, much more political.
A vice-director of che HK and Macau Affairs Office, Chen Ziving, was quoted as saying in Peking that as he had not read the full text of the policy address, he would not comment at this stage. He said that the Chinese side would carefully study the policy speech.
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