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TEAM. SINCE THE TEAM HAD TO BE COMPOSED OF ONE REPRESENTATIVE AND A GROUP OF SUPPORTING STAFF, THERE HAD TO BE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR STATUS.
(IV) THE GAZETTING OF THE BILL HAD POSED ANOTHER OBSTACLE: THE PACKAGE WAS NO LONGER A PROPOSAL BUT A POLICY DECIDED AND ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL. THIS CAUSED DIFFICULTY FOR THE PACKAGE TO BE WITHDRAWN . THE INITIATIVE IN RESOLVING THIS DIFFICULTY RESTED WITH THE BRITISH SIDE. FORTUNATELY THE CHINESE HAD NOT SET ANY SPECIFIC CONDITIONS. THERE WAS STILL MUCH ROOM FOR MANOEUVRE FOR BOTH SIDES.
(V) THE CRUX OF THE MATTER NOW WAS HOW THE CHINESE WOULD INTERPRET THE GAZETTING OF THE BILL AND MADE THEIR DECISIONS. THE CHINESE HAD COME TO THE VIEW THAT THE GOVERNOR ALONE WAS THE STUMBLING BLOCK.
2.
THE ARTICLE WENT ON TO CONTEND THAT IN FACT HKG HAD AMPLE TIME TO COMPLETE THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS: THE LEGISLATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR DB ELECTIONS COULD BE TABLED TO LEGCO AS LATE AS THE END OF THIS YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR: AND THE LEGISLATION FOR
THE 1995 ELECTIONS COULD BE DONE IN THE MIDDLE OR END OF NEXT (1994)
YEAR. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE SET THE JULY 1993 DEADLINE, WHICH TO THE CHINESE WAS MERELY A PLOY TO PRESSURISE THEM. THIS ATTEMPT HAD FAILED IN FEB AND MARCH, HOW COULD IT BE SUCCESSFUL IN APRIL OR MAY QUERY.
3. THE ARTICLE CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD SEIZE THE LAST CHANCE BY DECLARING THAT THE BILL WOULD NOT/NOT BE
INTRODUCED INTO LEGCO UNLESS TALKS FAILED OR DELAY WAS NO LONGER POSSIBLE DUE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE OR ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS. ONLY BY DOING SO COULD HE AVOID MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE. HE SHOULD TRY TO REBUILD A TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA WITH A SINCERE AND REALISTIC ATTITUDE.
FORD
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