UNCLASSIFIED
111457
MDLIAN 54
COMMUNITY IN THE TALKS. SOME WERE CONCERNED THAT THE BRITISH SIDE WOULD MAKE MAJOR CONCESSIONS TO THE CHINESE SIDE, AND THAT HONG KONG WOULD BE PRESENTED WITH A FAIT ACCOMPLI.
5. TANG ARGUED THAT HE TOO SUPPORTED GREATER TRANSPARENCY, BUT HE FELT THIS SHOULD BE ACHIEVED THROUGH FULL DISCLOSURE WHEN THE TALKS CONCLUDED. DISCLOSURE AT EVERY STAGE OF THE TALKS WOULD LEAD TO PUBLIC DEBATE, JEOPARDISING THE CHANCE OF A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION. THERE WAS ALSO NO EVIDENCE THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS WORRIED BY THE CONFIDENTIALITY. TAM YIU-CHUNG (DABHK) ALSO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF TANG.
6. SCA REPLIED ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION DRAWING ON STANDARD LINES. HE EMPHASISED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO SECRET DEALS, AND THAT ANY UNDERSTANDING REACHED WITH THE CHINESE WOULD BE SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WOULD BE FOR LEGCO TO EITHER PASS, AMEND OR REJECT THE RELEVANT DRAFT LEGISLATION PRESENTED BEFORE IT. THE THREE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS VOTED FOR TANG'S AMENDMENT, AND AGAINST YEUNG'S MOTION.
PATTEN
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
.HK POLICY
65
DISTRIBUTION
72
NTCD
HKD
PUSD
FED
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS
LEGAL ADVISERS//MR GILES NEWS D
PLANNERS
RAD
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
MR HUM
ADDITIONAL
7
CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO)
CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES
CAOFF//MR SIBSON
Nusalas
PAGE
PS NO 10.
2
UNCLASSIFIED