9. THE LEFTWING PRESS HAILED THE FIRST MEETING OF THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE. TA KUNG PAO SAID THE MEETING HAD MADE A GOOD AND DEMOCRATIC BECINNING. THE PAPER SELIEVED THAT PUBLIC STATEMENTS . BY CHINESE OFFICIALS WERE IN LINE WITH HK PEOPLE'S ASPIRATIONS. NEW EVENING POST LINKED THE BL WITH POLITICAL REFORMS IN HK AND SAID THAT HK SHOULD PRESERVE ITS PRESENT CONDITIONS UNTIL THE PROMULGATION OF THE BL, SO THAT POLITICAL REFORMS WOULD NOT GO AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF THE BL. THE PAPER ADDED THAT THERE WOULD STILL BE SEVEN YEARS AFTER PROMULGATION OF THE BL TO INTRODUCE REFORMS ACCEPTABLE TO ALL PARTIES. A COLUMNIST IN TIN TIN DAILY NEWS HOPED THAT HK MEMBERS OF THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE WOULD FIGHT FOR THE POWER FOR HK TO INTERPRET THE BL.
10. EARLIER IN THE WEEK, PAPERS HAD ALSO COMMENTED ON THE BL.
·MING PAO SAID THAT THE DRAFTING WORK SHOULD FOCUS ON PRACTICALITY, ECONOMIC NEEDS, FREEDOMS AND THE RULE OF LAW. TIN TIN DAILY NEWS SAID THAT THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE SHOULD BE APPOINTED BY CHINA TO ENSURE THAT THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE WOULD TAKE ACCOUNT OF ITS
VIEWS.
11. THERE WAS STILL CONSIDERABLE EDITORIAL INTEREST IN THE LEGCO POWERS AND PRIVILEGES BILL.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG ·
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG PS/R LUCE PS/PUS
MR. DEREK THOMAS
SIR W HARDING MR GOODALL
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND MR CROWLEY
3
COPIES TO:-
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF TH EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO:- (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS NEWS D
MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS
MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST.
MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST.
MR MARTIN ASST STAFF CABINET OFFICE
CABINET OFFICE
MR MALLABY
MR DRC CHRISTOPHER, CABINET OFFICE. PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE
PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST. MR KELLY TREASURY
RESTRICTED
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