RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2486
OF 120657Z OCTOBER 92
RESTRICTED
MAR 01716 Нав
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
pm. Class angle
12624583
TOP COPY Q DIST?
MDHIAN 2859
LEGCO ADDRESS : CHINESE REACTION : 12 OCTOBER
SUMMARY
1.
THE COMMUNIST PRESS CONTINUE TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR
THAT MY PROPOSALS ARE CONTRARY TO THE BASIC LAW.
''PROVING
DETAIL 2.
TA KUNG PAO ARGUES THAT MY PROPOSALS FOR DBS, THE ELECTION COMMITTEE AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AMOUNT TO AN INCREASE IN DIRECT ELECTIONS IN DISGUISE.
3.
THE SAME PAPER SAYS THAT THE JOINT DECLARATION STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING HONG KONG SYSTEMS BASICALLY UNCHANGED FOR 50 YEARS. (COMMENT: IT WAYS THAT FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BUT NOT POLITICAL SYSTEMS.> WEN WEI PAO ARGUES THAT MY PROPOSALS OFFEND ARTICLE 68 OF THE BASIC LAW, WHICH CALLS FOR GRADUAL AND ORDERLY PROGRESS IN LEGCO'S DEVELOPMENT.
WEN WEI PAO AND TA KUNG PAO FIRMLY OPPOSE ANY IDEA OF A REFERENDUM, ARGUING THAT THIS WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO HONG KONG PEOPLE DECIDING ON THE BASIC LAW. THAT IS A MATTER FOR THE NPC.
4.
COMMENT
5.
ON THE IDEA OF A REFERENDUM, I WILL BE TAKING THE LINE THAT THE WAY AHEAD ON MY PROPOSALS IS CLEAR. I WILL DISCUSS THEM WITH CHINA AND LISTEN TOT HE VIEWS OF THE COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG. IN DUE COURSE LEGISLATION WILL BE PUT TO LEGCO. THAT IS AS FAR AHEAD AS CAN BE SEEN AT PRESENT.
PATTEN
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