SECRET
6
Some
would be a long drawn-out process. If Members did not
like parts of the proposals, amendments would emerge. Members were already thinking of alternatives but were waiting to bring these up during the debate. It
would be difficult to justify any of the four
proposals being considered today in terms of consistency with the five principles and the Basic Law
and in this context, amendments might be more easily
through the legislative process than if they
achieved
were put forward by the Administration.
9.
If
The Governor said he thought there would be
a "swirling" majority in the Legislative Council.
the package was to be voted on as a whole it would
likely be referred to a Bills Committee after the
second reading. Support would then vary from issue to
issue as different components were discussed. He said
Legislative Council seemed least happy with the
proposals on FCS.
If these were amended by the
legislature this might have a knock-on effect on other
components in the package.
the
10.
by the
the
With regard to possible changes put forward
Administration, he said we should bear in mind
fact that we had argued that the original
with the five
proposals
on the EC
were
consistent