CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1875
OF 17094OZ MAY 38
CONFIDENTIAL
HUD 34115 ний
AMENDED DISTRIBUTION 17 MAY
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, PEK ING INFO ROUTINE HKGO NEW YORK, HKGO BRUSSELS, HKGO GENEVA INFO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA, HKGO WASHINGTON
INFO SAVING SAN FRANCISCO
PA
023564
MDLIAN 8001
HONG KONG AGREEMENT : PRESS COVERAGE: WEEKLY ROUND-UP
BASIC LAW
·
1 COVERAGE OF THE BASIC LAW REMAINED EXTENSIVE DURING THE WEEK.
MANY COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS WERE REPORTED TO HAVE ESTABLISHED
SPECIAL GROUPS TO STUDY THE DRAFT. CONFUSION WAS REPORTED AMONG
THE DISTRICT BOARDS AS TO HOW THEIR VIEWS SHOULD BE CHANNELLED
TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. BUT ACS WAS REPORTED TO HAVE STATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER ANY REQUESTS FROM LEGCO, URBCO
AT DB'S TO FORWARD VIEWS ON THE DRAFT THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS.
2. A GROUP OF 18 BLCC MEMBERS ARE IN PEKING WHERE MEETINGS HAVE
BEEN HELD WITH LI HOU AND LU PING AS WELL AS OME MAINLAND DRAFTERS.
DISCUSSIONS WERE REPORTED TO HAVE CENTRED AROUND THE INTERPRETATION
OF THE BASIC LAW AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BASIC LAW COMMITTEE.
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3. PRESS ATTENTION SWITCHED FROM THE CONSULTATION PROCESS TO THE
ACTUAL ARTICLES IN THE DRAFT. THE 'GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE'
PROPOSAL FOR THE SELECTION OF THE C.E. WAS DESCRIBED BY DEMOCRATS A S UNDEMOCRATIC AND BY SIR JACK CATER AS ''RIDICULOUS.'
LABOUR FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPOKESMAN GEORGE FOULKES ECHOED HIS CONCERN
DESCRIBING THE PROPOSAL AS NOT BEING A GENUINE ELECTION PROCESS.
EDITORIALS IN THE INDEPENDENT PAPERS COMMENTED ON THE METHODOLOGY
OF SELECTING THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE. SOME CALLED FOR AN UPPER AGE
LIMIT TO BE SET FOR CANDIDATES. HOWEVER LEFT-WING PRESS COMMENTING
ON THE ISSUE SUGGESTED THAT THE LOWER LIMIT OF THE AGE OF THE CHIEF
EXECUTIVE SHOULD BE RAISED FROM 4U TO 45. IT WAS NOTABLE THAT THE LEFT WING PRESS, FOR THE FIRST TIME, COMMENTED ON DETAILS OF THE BL SUPPORTING THE ARTICLES ON THE INTERPRETATION OF THE BL,
THE BL COMMITTEE AND NATIONALITY.
4. SEVERAL ACADEMICS EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER PROVISIONS IN THE DRAFT
RELATING TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM AS BEING VAGUE. THE IMPORTANCE
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CONFIDENTIAL
empatia
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