1992-01-03 14:32 INFORMATION SERVICES DEPT
852 521 7725 P. 10/11
ENGLISH MEDIA GOVERNOR
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Both English dailies reported that the Co-operative Resources Centre had called for a motion debate to discuss local consultation on the appointment of the next Governor. CRC members agreed at a meeting yesterday to press the Government to collect local views on qualifications for the next Governor and convey them to London. The reports noted that the date of the motion debate would be discussed during an in-house meeting today. Meanwhile, Democrats Chairman Martin Lee said his group would like any motion to contain three principles. He said the new Governor must defend the Joint Declaration, quicken the pace of democracy and defend the interest of HK. However, Legco member Tam Yiu-chung said it was meaningless for Leaco to debate the issue. A visiting British MP, Conservative Sir John Wheeler, was quoted by the Post as flatly rejecting any need for London to consult the territory on the appointment.
In another development, both papers quoted NCNA HK Branch Vice-Director Zhang Junsheng as saying that the impending retirement of the Governor would not affect the visit by HK and Macau Affairs Office Director Lu Fing. However, Mr Zhang refused to comment on Sir David's retirement nor to discuss possible candidates for the new Governor. Meanwhile, the Post quoted CPPCC member Xu Simin as praising Sir David's performance as "quite good". He said the new governor should have to ability to ensure a smooth transition of sovereignty. NPC delegate Liu Yiu-chu was quoted by the paper as saying that although HK people ruling HK people was desirable, appointing a Chinese to be the Governor under British rule would be an illusion.
HKS in an editorial described the announcement on Sir David's retirement as ill-timed. The premature announcement without naming a successor was bound to have a damaging and de-stabilising effect on the remainder of Sir. David's term of office. It was hard to avoid the conclusion that the people of HK, as well as the Governor, had been treated with a marked lack of respect and consideration by the mandarins of Whitehall.
LEGCO
A compromise model proposed by Professor Edward Chen for a Legco committee system was reported by both papers. In a paper circulated to legislators, Professor Chen proposed setting up a bills standing committee system which would be permanent but would scrutinise only bills and not policies. HKS said the proposal received cautions endorsement from the United Democrats, with its vice chairman Yeung Sum saying that the model was worth further investigation.
In another development, the Post said Emily Lau had proposed summoning CS and former SEM Ron Bridge to explain the costs overrun of the University of Science and Technology. PAC members would discuss Ms Lau's request at a closed-door meeting on Monday.
Frank Ching, writing in HKEJ and the Post, said there was no denying that Legco was now more assertive than ever. But far from there being a secret plot to change the system to thwart the exercise of Chinese sovereignty, the changes that were occuring were almost entirely the result of the impending transfer of sovereignty. Since China's basic policies towards HK were in fact sound, the changes emanating from them could only be for the good of HK and for China.