TNAG-1622-FCO40-2236-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1987 — Page 126

LEADERS TO BE MORE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS IN THE

STRONG PLUG HE GAVE FOR THE CONCEPT OF INVOLVING OLD MIDDLE AGED AND

YOUNG CADRES TOGETHER IN LEADERSHIP GROUPS. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN

SOME POTENTIAL SET BACKS FOR REFORM THE NPC. THE DRAFT ENTERPRISE LAW WAS NOT EVEN SUBMITTED TO THIS SESSION, HAVING FAILED THOUGH

NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME · TO GET PAST THE STANDING COMMITTEE AND THE

REGULATIONS ON VILLAGE COMMITTEES ARE UNLIKELY TO BE ADOPTED. THERE

MAY WELL BE GOOD PRACTICAL ARGUMENTS FOR RECONSIDERING THESE LAWS,

BUT THE MMPRESSION OF TWO MAJOR PIECES OF REFORMIST LEGISLATION

FALLONG BY THE WAY CANNOT BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE REFORMERS.

6. DESPITE THE CAREFULLY PRESENTED APPEARANCE OF LEADERSHIP

STABILITY AND UNITY, REINFORCED BY HU YAOBANG'S PUBLIC APPEARANCE AT

THE OPENING SESSION OF THE NPC, THE POLITICAL SUCCESSION REMAINS

UNSETTLED, WHICH IS ITSELF UNSETTLING. THE NPC SESSION HAS NOW

TWICE BEEN PROLONGED BY ONE DAY. SOMETHING CLEARLY REQUIRES

EXTENDED DISCUSSION. THIS COULD BE THE APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS,

*INCLUDING VICE-PREMIERS. WHATEVER HAPPENS OVER THIS WILL GIVE SOME

CLUE TO THE CURRENT ALIGNMENT OF POLITICAL FORCES AND HE WILL BE

TELEGRAPHING AGAIN ON THIS SUBJECT AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE NPC.

#HAVE READ, AND AGREE GENERALLY WITH, THE DEPARTMENTS ANALYSIS OF

THE MAIN GROUPS (ENCLOSED WITH MASEFIELD'S LETTER OF 24 MARCH). BUT

* THINK THE INFLUENCE OF REMAINING MAQUISTS WHOUDL NOT BE RULED OUT.

THEY MAY HAVE NO OBVIOUS REPRESENTATIVE IN THE LEADERSHIP, BUT THEY

DO REMAIN ENTRENCHED IN POSITIONS AT ALL LEVELS OF THE CHINESE

SYSTEM AND COULD FORM A CONSTITUENCY WHICH A MORE RADICAL LEADER

COULD EXPLOIT.

THIS SESSION OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS HAS NOT PROVIDED

THE LAST WORD ON CONTEMPORARY CHINESE POLITICS. AS FAR AS POLICY IS

CONCERNED, THERE WERE NO INNOVATIONS. IN THE LEADUP TO THE PARTY CONGRESS WE CAN EXPECT CONTINUED POLITHICAL MANOEUVERING BEHIND THE

SCENES. ZHAO AND THE REFORMERS HAVE WEATHERED THE IN:HTSHAL

CHALLENGE, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY HAVE CARRIED ALL BEFORE THEM. THE LACK OF MORE OVERT CHALLENGES FROM THE CONSERVATIVES COULD EQUALLY BE BECAUSE THEY HAVE LEARNED THE LESSON OF THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST SPIRITUAL POLLUTION AND DO NOT WISH TO JEOPARDI SE

THEIR ALREADY SUBSTANTIAL GAINS BY PUSHING TOO HARD.

EVANS

YYYY

PEHPAN 5387

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