TNAG-1330-FCO40-1757-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 182

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(3) CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.

THERE WAS WORRY THAT THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE BY BEIJING WOULD MEAN TOO MUCH CONTROL BY BEIJING. THERE WAS A CALL THAT THE APPOINTMENT PROCEDURES OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

SHOULD BE CLEARLY STATED IN THE BASIC LAW.

C. MEDIA.

GENERAL REACTION.

THE DRAFT AGREEMENT WAS GIVEN PROMINENCE IN ALL THE PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA AND WAS GENERALLY VERY WELL RECEIVED. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND, IN PARTICULAR, REPRESENTATIVE BODIES (E.6. UMELCO) INDICATED CLEAR SUPPORT FOR THE DRAFT AGREEMENT AND COMMENDED ITS ACCEPTANCE. BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS EXPRESSED OPTIMISM AND SATISFACTION THAT IT WOULD WORK. SOME INDIVIDUALS INTERVIEWED, HOWEVER, WERE WORRIED ABOUT POLITICAL INSTABILITY IN CHINA, WHICH MIGHT IMPEDE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONTENTS IN THE DRAFT AGREEMENT. OTHERS FELT THAT THE AGREEMENT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE: INDICATING WORRY ABOUT CHINA'S ADHERENCE TO THE AGREEMENT. PRO-TAIWAN PAPERS URGED PEOPLE NOT TO ACCEPT THE AGREEMENT AND NOT TO TRUST CHINA IN ITS PROMOTION OF THE ONE COUNTRY TWO SYSTEMS' CONCEPT. TOPICS OF INTEREST IN THE MEDIA

INCLUDED CONCERN OVER THE ISSUE OF SPECIAL TRAVEL DOCUMENTS TO HONG KONG RESIDENTS, AND REQUIREMENTS FOR FUTURE SAR RESIDENTS. FEARS WERE ALSO EXPRESSED THAT THOSE WHO COULD LEAVE, WOULD LEAVE BEFORE HONG KONG BECOMES AN SAR. INCREASING EMPHASIS ON HONG KONG PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION IN THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW WAS

DETECTED IN MEDIA REPORTS.

ENDS.

HADDON-CAVE

LIMITED

HD MED HD FED

Ps

PS/HR LUCE Ps/Pus

COPIES TO

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SIRP CRADOCK (2) SIR J FREELAND) LEGAL

MR BURROWS

JADVISERS.

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