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TALKING POINTS
146
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6 November 1992
Mr Whitne
TALKING POINTS issues on Fridays and records public views and reactions on current talking points collected from a small number of respondents in both urban and New Territories regions by City and New Territories Administration liaison staff over the week. As TALKING POINTS is not based upon a large representative cross-section of public opinion, indications in it Should be treated with caution and should not be quoted authoritatively without first checking their reliability with the City and New Territories Administration.
SINO-BRITISH DISPUTE OVER HONG KONG'S CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Respondents continued to
be concerned over the prevailing dispute over Hong Kong's constitutional development. Views remained divided as to whether any 'deal' existed as reflected from the seven documents released by the British and Chinese Governments. While most did not consider that there had been а legally binding agreement, many felt that some form of tacit understanding had been reached. Some believed that there had been a general consensus on the direction of the 1995 electoral arrangements and that both sides had acknowledged the need for further consultation on details. These felt that the proposals had offended the spirit, if not the letter, of the Basic Law. Some suggested that the different views expressed by the two sides were a result of different interpretations and different cultural backgrounds. Some respondents commented that the disclosure of the documents only added fuel to the dispute, while some other respondents felt that the documents reflected that both sides did not represent to the full the interest of the Hong Kong people. Respondents however held that they had the urged that future negotiations on Hong Kong should be made more transparent to the public.
right to know and
2.
Many respondents expressed their wish that the dispute would end soon and that the matter could be resolved rationally. Some noticed that there were signs that talks might be able to resume and that officials in the Hong Kong and Macau Office had ceased to hurl criticisms at the Governor's proposals during the past week. They urged that the JLG should be convened to discuss ways to break the ice.
3.
A number of respondents indicated their preference to see the prevailing freedoms and stability continue rather than more democracy. Some other respondents felt that the LegCo debate should focus on the various welfare services proposals, the implementation of which should not be held up by the argument over political reforms.
ARREST OF HONG KONG REPORTER IN CHINA
Most respondents
4.
believed that the reporter had acted against mainland laws and therefore the arrest was not without grounds. Many felt relieved yet also surprised at the early release of the reporter. While some regarded the lenient treatment of the reporter
a matter of luck, others believed
that China was under some pressure to release her as the incident had been widely covered and was causing much concern in Hong Kong.
C.N.T.A. 8 (Rev.)
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