UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
pa
UNCLASSIFIED
HAB RECE"'
301/2
ISTRY
TELNO 1132
INDEX
OF 121046Z JULY 93
16 JUL 1993
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
INFO PRIORITY PEKING UKREP JLG HONG KONG
pu. Press Londyn
051122
MDHIAN 8484
59
OP COPY DIST?
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PRESS REPORTS (11-12 JULY 1993)
WESTERN HARBOUR CROSSING
1. THE LOCAL PRESS ACCORDED PROMINENT COVERAGE TO THE REMARKS MADE BY THE VISITING HKMAO VICE-DIRECTOR WANG QIREN ON THE WHC. WANG WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON THE WHO HAD TO BE RESPECTED AND FULLY IMPLEMENTED. WHEN CHINA GAVE ITS APPROVAL TO THE WHO FRANCHISE, THE BRITISH SIDE INDICATED THAT THEY HAD ALREADY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE NEED TO BALANCE TOLL CHARGES FOR THIS TUNNEL WITH THE OTHER TWO EXISTING TUNNELS. WANG BELIEVED THAT MOST LEGCO MEMBERS WOULD ADOPT A POSITIVE ATTITUDE ON THE WHC ISSUE IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HK.
2. THE LEFT-WING TA KUNG PAO ECHOED THE REMARKS OF WANG QIREN THAT THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON THE WHC SHOULD BE ADHERED TO. THE PAPER SUSPECTED THAT SOME LEGISLATORS SOUGHT TO POLITICISE THE ISSUE BECAUSE A CHINESE CORPORATION WAS INVOLVED IN THE WHC PROJECT. THE MOTIVE OF THESE LEGISLATORS WAS TO THWART THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT IN THE SAME WAY THAT THEY REJECTED THE JLG AGREEMENT ON THE COURT OF FINAL APPEAL. THE PAPER SAID THAT IF HKG FAILED TO OVERCOME THE INTERFERENCE BY LEGISLATORS OVER THE WHC THIS WOULD RENDER DOUBTFUL HKG'S ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT FUTURE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENTS AND THIS WOULD CAST A SHADOW OVER FUTURE SINO-BRITISH CO-OPERATION AND NEGOTIATIONS.
3. HK ECONOMIC JOURNAL SAID THE WHC ROW HAD AGAIN HIGHLIGHTED THE DIFFICULTY THE GOVERNMENT FACED IN GETTING EXCO'S DECISION PASSED IN LEGCO OWING TO THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNCILS. THE SCMP ON 11 JULY COMPARED GOVERNMENT'S HANDLING OF THE WHC BILL, THE CFA AND THE TALKS ON THE 1994 ELECTIONS. THE PAPER SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNOR HAD REPEATEDLY PLEDGED THAT LEGCO WOULD HAVE A FINAL SAY ON THE 1994/95 ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS, THIS PLEDGE MIGHT BE EASILY RENDERED WORTHLESS BY THE HIGH-PRESSURE TACTICS ADOPTED OVER THE WHC BILL, AND THE CHANGE IN THE GOVERNOR'S STANCE FROM EMPHASISING THE IMPORTANCE OF A DEAL ON THE CFA WHICH WAS ACCEPTABLE TO LEGCO LAST OCTOBER TO NOW MAKING CLEAR THAT IT
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