TNAG-1721-FCO40-2401-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-delegati-1988 — Page 83

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would work was quite different to the British concept. The Chinese wanted the GEC to comprise members selected by the NCNA. The Chinese ideas were inconsistent with the Joint Declaration.

He

(c) Grand Electoral College: many in Hong Kong felt the UK government were responsible for suggesting to the Chinese that officials be elected to LegCo by the Grand Electoral College. noted the reference to the Grand Electoral College in the Green Paper. Why was it there? It had been suggested by the group of 76, who had not thought it through.

(d) Membership of Land Development Corporation: he noted that a significant number (four) of the Land Development Corporation members were also members of the group of 76. Was this because there had been consultation with the Chinese? This was certainly the impression given. He had raised the question with the Chief Secretary, who had answered him that HKG had never looked at it in that way.

But HKG should have seen the Chinese angle. Maybe there had been suggestions from NCNA? Maybe HKG thought this would be a nice gesture to China?

(e)

Possible NCNA/Chinese interference with the courts: Mr Lee was worried that individuals subject to prosecution action might turn to the NCNA for support. Ronald Li's son had been reported by Target as seeking help from NCNA. He did not know whether this was true. He had personally represented a Chinese group in the Court of Appeal; the group had suggested that political influence should be brought to bear on the court through NCNA (he had of course explained why this would be totally unacceptable).

He

(£) Film censorship: he asked whether political censorship of films was really necessary. He was worried that it might lead in due course to censorship in other areas such as newspapers. wondered whether the grounds for censorship could not be based on Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and whether censorship cold be made a matter for the courts. Daniel Fung supported this latter idea.

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