TNAG-1442-FCO40-1926-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 130

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INFO PRIORITY PEKING

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HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED: FUTURE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT

STRUCTURE: MIRROR MAGAZINE ARTICLE.

SUMMARY

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF THE MIRROR MAGAZINE CONTAINS AN ARTICLE

UNDER THE BY-LINE OF KOO SHING-FAN, COMMENTING ON THE MANIFESTO

ON THE FUTURE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE OF HK PUT FORWARD RECENTLY BY

A GROUP OF 57 BLCC MEMBERS FROM THE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL

SECTORS. THE ARTICLE ALLEGED THAT THE PROPOSALS IN THE MANIFESTO

HAD RECEIVED THE TACIT BLESSING OF THE CHINESE AND BRITISH SIDES.

DETAILS

2. THE ARTICLE SAID THAT THE MANIFESTO WAS MASTERMINDED BY MEMBERS

OF THE PROGRESSIVE HONG KONG SOCIETY AND WERE MADE PUBLIC ONLY

AFTER IT WAS SEEN BY SENIOR HKG OFFICIALS AND CONSULTATION WITH

THE CHINESE SIDE. IT COMMENTED THAT BOTH CHINA AND BRITAIN WERE

EVIDENTLY SEEKING A COMPROMISE OVER THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF THE

SAR. IF PUBLIC REACTIONS WERE IN FAVOUR OF THE PROPOSALS OF THE

MANIFESTO, THEY WOULD FORM THE BASIS OF THE 1987 REVIEW OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THUS ENSURING A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO

1997 AND CONVERGENCE WITH THE BASIC LAW.

3. THE ARTICLE SAID THAT THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE MANIFESTO

WERE TO PRESERVE THE MERITS OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM AND TO FOSTER

A FAVOURABLE CLIMATE TO ENSURE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROSPERITY. THEY TOOK CARE OF THE INTERESTS OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, COMPLIED WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE JD, AND CAME CLOSE TO PEKING'S IDEA OF ''KEEPING THE HONG KONG SOCHAL SYSTEM BASICALLY UNCHANGED''

4. THE ARTICLE THEN EXPLAINED THAT THE BUSINESSMEN HAD DECIDED

TO SPEAK OUT LARGELY AS A REACTION AGAINST RADICAL ELEMENTS

ADVOCATING DEMOCRACY, PARTY POLITICS AND A LEGISLATURE-LED

GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM. REFERRING TO THE ACTIVITIES OF ''VOCAL

ELEMENTS'' (GANYAN RENSHI), THE ARTICLE WARNED AGAINST THE

DESTABILIZING EFFECTS OF PARTY POLITICS.

5. THE ARTICLE TOOK THE VIEW THAT BRITAIN, IN THE LONG-RUN,

WANTED TO BE ON FRIENDLY TERMS WITH PEKING SO AS TO PROMOTE TRADE AND INDUSTRY. TO FACILITATE THIS, HK SHOULD MAINTAIN ITS EXISTING

LEGAL AND POLITICAL SYSTEM AFTER 1997 WITH PRO-BRITISH ELEMENTS

CONTINUING TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE. IT WAS THEREFORE BRITAIN'S

INTENTION TO GROOM SUITABLE PEOPLE TO GOVERN HK IN FUTURE. THE KEY

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