UNCLASSIFIED
057565
MDLIAN 245
6. FREDERICK FUNG (ADPL) SAID THE DECISION WAS ANOTHER TACTIC TO FORCE CHINA TO RESUME TALKS. GAZETTING WITHOUT INTRODUCTION TO LEGCO SHOWED THAT IT WAS JUST ANOTHER SHOW AND MORE EMPTY TALK.
INDEPENDENTS
7. DAVID LI SAID THE GOVERNOR HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY TO LET HONG KONG PEOPLE KNOW OF HIS THINKING. THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAD WAITED FOR A LONG TIME AND NOW THE SITUATION HAD BECOME CLEARER. HE SAID THE DECISION WOULD NOT HAVE A GREAT IMPACT ON STOCK MARKET AS THE ECONOMY WAS STILL STRONG. CHRISTINE LOH FULLY SUPPORTED THE GOVERNOR. SHE SAID THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG NOW KNEW THAT UK'S POSITION WAS FIRM. THE GOVERNOR HAD BEEN CONCILIATORY BY NOT INTRODUCING THE BILL TO LEGCO UPON GAZETTAL. ANDREW WONG AGREED WITH THE GOVERNORS DECISION WHILE SAMUEL WONG SAID THE HIGH PROFILE ADOPTED BY THE GOVERNOR WOULD ANTAGONISE THE CHINESE.
SURVEY
8 =
MING PAO COMMISSIONED A SURVEY LAST (12 MAR) EVENING ON PUBLIC REACTION TO THE GAZETTAL. 549 PEOPLE INTERVIEWED BY TELEPHONE (REPRESENTING A RESPONSE RATE OF 54 PER CENT), THE FINDINGS ARE FOLLOWS:
(I) ON THE GAZETTAL OF THE BILL:
SUPPORT VERY MUCH
QUITE SUPPORTIVE
QUITE OPPOSED
OPPOSE VERY MUCH
DONT KNOW/
DIFFICULT TO SAY
:
: 24.2 PERCENT
:
10.7 PERCENT 234-9
322.4
14.9 PERCENT
: 7.5 PERCENT
: 42.6 PERCENT
(II) ON CHANCES THAT BOTH SIDES CAN STILL RESUME TALKS:
THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE TALKS
THERE WILL BE TALKS
: 12.2 PERCENT
: 61.4 PERCENT
THERE WILL NOT BE TALKS THERE WILL CERTAINLY NOT BE DONT KNOW/DIFFICULT TO SAY:
:
9.3 PERCENT
TALKS:
3.1 PERCENT : 14.0 PERCENT
PATTEN
YYYY
2
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