3. IN THE SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION, DOROTHY LIU (A PROMINENT AND
GENERALLY LEFT-WING SOLICITOR) CALLED FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL COURT IN HONG KONG, WITH EQUAL NUMBERS OF MEMBERS FROM CHINA AND HONG KONG, TO DECIDE ON CONFLICTS ARISING FROM THE BASIC LAW'S IMPLEMENTATION. MR MARTIL LEE, QC, SUPPORTED THIS SUGGESTION.
MOOD OF HONG KONG
4. ALTHOUGH YOUR LETTER OF 18 MAY DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY REQUEST A GENERAL ROUND-UP ON PUBLIC OPINION, YOU MAY FIND THE FOLLOWING
SUMMARY USEFUL.
5. DENG XIAOPING'S WARNING THAT THE PLA WOULD BE STATIONED IN HONG KONG FOLLOWING CHINESE RESUMPTION OF SOVEREIGNTY HAS AROUSED CONCERN, BUT NOT THE OPENLY-EXPRESSED DISMAY THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED. MOST COMMENTATORS HAVE TAKEN THE VIEW THAT CHINA WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO STATION TROOPS IN HONG KONG TO MARK HER SOVEREIGNTY, BUT THEY QUESTION THE NEED FOR, AND WISDOM OF, EXERCISING THAT RIGHT. MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED ALARM AT THE ARBITRARY AND EMOTIONAL WAY IN WHICH DENG MADE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT, AND
AT HIS PUBLIC CRITICISM OF TWO SENIOR COLLEAGUES (NOT REPORTED BY
THE COMMUNIST PRESS IN HONG KONG).
6. DISTRICT OFFICERS REPORT CONTINUING ENTHUSIASM FOR UMELCO, AND
A WIDESPREAD HOPE THAT THEY WILL SEND A TEAM TO PEKING FAIRLY SOON.
ACCORDING TO A SURVEY PUBLISHED BY THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
ON 25 MAY, 82 PERCENT OF THOSE QUESTIONED APPROVED THE UMELCO
STATEMENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART.
7. DESPITE DENG'S ANNOUNCEMENT, THERE HAS BEEN NO NOTICEABLE INCREASE
IN PESSIMISM DURING THE PAST FORTNIGHT. TALK OF EMIGRATION CONTINUES,
BUT IS NOT YET BEING TRANSLATED INTO WIDESPREAD ACTION. ONE DISTRICT
OFFICER HAS REPORTED THAT 3 OF HIS BEST DISTRICT BOARD LEADERS
HAVE SAID THAT THEY WILL SEEK TO ACQUIRE RESIDENTIAL RIGHTS OVERSEAS
UNLESS THEY ARE GIVEN A PLEDGE THAT THEY CAN SETTLE IN BRITAIN OR
ELSEWHERE IF THE NEED ARISES (IN WHICH CASE THEY WOULD STAY IN
HONG KONG). DISTRICT OFFICERS CONTINUE TO REPORT WIDESPREAD
DISILLUSION WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, AND A GENERAL BELIEF
THAT EXPATRIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SERVANTS ARE PURSUING THE
INTERESTS OF BRITAIN IN PREFERENCE TO THOSE OF HONG KONG.
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
8. INTEREST CONTINUES IN PROGRESS TOWARDS MORE REPRESENTATIVE
GOVERNMENT, BUT MOST PEOPLE SEEM CONTENT TO WAIT FOR NEXT MONTH'S
GREEN PAPER.
SECRET
CONFIDENTIAL
ECONOMIE.
Page 60Page 61
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.