CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 31083OZ FCO
TELNO 1933
OF 31033OZ DECEMBER 93
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
HUB 011 нив
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
11 JAN 1994
REGISTRY
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
Kas polo
006722-
MDHIAN 837713
p.a. Opinion Polls 307/ K(56+7)
MINISTER OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG: JANUARY 1994.
THE MOOD OF THE COMMUNITY.
SUMMARY.
LAST PAPER
1. THE MINISTER WILL FIND THAT SINCE HIS SEPTEMBER VISIT, THE
TERRITORY HAS BECOME MORE ROBUSTLY SELF-CONFIDENT THAN BEFORE, DESPITE THE BREAKDOWN OF CONSTITUTIONAL TALKS WITH THE CPG. THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS VERY UPBEAT ABOUT ECONOMIC PROSPECTS FOR 1994. SUPPORT FOR THE ADMINISTRATION REMAINS STEADY AND SOLID. OUR LATEST MAJOR INITIATIVE, AN OLD-AGE PENSION SCHEME (OPS), HAS WON GOOD BACKING IN OPINION POLLS.
AFTER THE TALKS.
2.
DECEMBER SAW A NEW CHALLENGE TO THE TERRITORY'S POLITICAL RESILIENCE. THE FAILURE TO REACH AGREEMENT AT THE 17TH ROUND OF THE PEKING TALKS AND THE INTRODUCTION INTO LEGCO OF THE STAGE I CONSTITUTIONAL BILL WAS FOLLOWED BY HARSH CPG DECLARATIONS THAT FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS WERE IMPOSSIBLE AND THAT THE PRELIMINARY WORKING COMMITTEE (PWC) WOULD ACCELERATE ITS ACTIVITIES. ON DECEMBER 27, THE NCNA ANNOUNCED THAT ALL THREE LEVELS OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE DENIED A 'THROUGH TRAIN' 1997 BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE CONSTITUTED UNDER LEGISLATION IN VIOLATION OF THE BASIC LAW (BL).
3.
IN
THE COMMUNITY DISPLAYED LITTLE ANXIETY ABOUT THE CPG'S INDIGNATION. THE PUBLIC AT LARGE SEEMED SOMEWHAT RELIEVED THAT, AT LAST, THE CONSTITUTIONAL IMPASSE WAS TO BE RESOLVED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AFTER SO MANY MONTHS OF FRUITLESS DIPLOMATIC WRANGLING. A MAJORITY STILL BELIEVED, HOWEVER, THAT THE CPG WOULD RESUME TALKS EVENTUALLY (ACCORDING TO 61 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS IN A POLL ON 7 DECEMBER).
CHANGING TACTICS AND SENTIMENTS.
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