TNAG-1397-FCO40-1869-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1985 — Page 87

- 2 -

capitalist society. One is, therefore, led to think that the same consideration will be reflected in the membership of the Consultative Committee. Furthermore, it was rumoured that a vice-chairman of the Drafting Committee had suggested a 'highly efficient' way of nomination local members of the Drafting Committee will each nominate ten persons to make up the Consultative Committee. Consequently, a number of community groups, worried, on the one hand, about the representativeness of the Consultative Committee and, on the other, that the membership of the Consultative Committee will be left to the sole decision of the Drafting Committee, put forward the view that the Consultative Committee should be nominated by people from all sectors after consultation.

'paying a visit' to the NCNA was finally acted out.

▲ scene of

The director of the NCNA's local branch, Mr Xu Jiatun, received them in the capacity of vice-chairman of the Basic Law Drafting Committee. He explained that 'people with Taiwan connections' would be welcome to sit on the committee and mentioned the names of Pok Shau-fu, Eddie Tseng and Chan Chi-fai. Pok Shau-fu is a member of the Legislative Yuan in

Taiwan and publishr of 'Newsdom' in Hong Kong. Eddie Tseng works for Taiwan's Central News Agency in Hong Kong, while Chan Chi-fai is responsible for liaising with the various Taiwan agencies here. Based on united front considerations, the NCNA would naturally wish to strike up a connection with them on the implementation of the 'one country, two systems' policy. Shortly afterwards, in mid-August, Pok Shau-fu published a long article entitled "Thank you, Mr Xu Jiatun, for your kind consideration", in which he politely declined 'Uncle Xu's' invitation and, as a Hong Kong resident of 40 years, offered his best wishes for the 'one country, two systems' policy and the

future of Hong Kong.

From Xu Jiatun's naming and invitation of persons with Taiwan connections, one is led to think that one of the Consultative Committee's major functions is to launch a united front and (if possible) a united front

with Taiwan in particular.

/....