MAR 29 '88 16:16 HK GOVT. SF
Fax No. : SF 218
File No.: SFG 4/2
To:
SASI (Rowse) Rept
M(W)
D(NY)
From: Date:
D(SF) (Johnson)
March 29, 1988.
P.1
A116
Martin Lee addressed the Asia-Pacific Study group of the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco yesterday, Monday evening.
were that:
His talk included nothing unexpected.
Cacceptabl
1. The J.D. was acceptable as it stood.
The main points
2. The U.K. had earlier made a number of promises
re constitutional development in H.K. in the run up to 1997.
3. The PRC government is already in breach of the
J.D., particularly with regard to their interference in and influence on the pace and extent of constitutional development in Hong Kong.
4. The U,K. has backed off in the face of Chinese
pressure.
5. There is a de facto conspiracy between the PRC,
U.K. and the convervative business group in H.K., all of whom wish to delay constitutional reform for their own reasons.
6. This has resulted in considerable damage to H.K.,
He then as demonstrated by increasing emigration. gave figures and examples.
7. Present prosperity is deceptive, underneath people
are scared.
8.
If autonomy is not possible now, what hope is there in the future.
9. Democracy is needed now, although not before because until now the U.K. parliament has been a backstop and a buffer against PRC influence and interference. A substitute buffer is needed post 1997 as PRC practice provides no assurance.
10. A democratic system is essential to guarantee the
continuation of the present legal system.
/11.
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