CONFIDENTIAL
053716
MDLIAN 9521
12. THE BOYCOTT BY THE ''LIBERALS' WAS NOT UNEXPECTED. THEY SEEM TO HAVE DEPLOYED THIS TACTIC AS A MEANS OF RE-ASSERTING THEIR PRINCIPLES, AND WILL NOW RELY ON THEIR OWN REFERENDUM EXERCISE TO RALLY SUPPORT. OUR ASSESSMENT IS THAT THEIR BOYCOTT IS UNLIKELY TO EXERT MUCH PRESSURE ON THE CHINESE NOW THAT THE ''MODERATES'' ARE WORKING ACTIVELY FOR A COMPROMISE MODEL AND THE G89 HAVE SHOWN FLEXIBILITY. INDEED THE BOYCOTT COULD TEND TO UNDERMINE THEIR INFLUENCE BY ALIENATING THE ''LIBERALS'' FURTHER FROM THE DRAFTING EXERCISE.
DISTRICT FEEDBACK
13. THE DRAFTERS VISITED A FEW DISTRICTS, APPARENTLY TO ENCOURAGE MORE ACTIVE DISCUSSION OF THE SECOND DRAFT. ACCORDING TO OUR CONTACTS, HOWEVER, APATHY PREVAILS AND THERE ARE NO REPORTS AS YET OF DBS PLANNING TO DISCUSS THE DOCUMENT.
4. PUBLICLY, THE DRAFTERS HAVE NOT/NOT INDICATED WHAT SPECIFIC CHANGES MIGHT BE MADE TO THE SECOND DRAFT IN THE LIGHT OF THE PUBLIC VIEWS EXPRESSED. IT WILL, HOWEVER, BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO DUCK THE QUESTION IN THEIR SUBSEQUENT VISITS. BY THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE STUDIED THE ''MODERATES'' PROPOSALS, AND THE LEGCO DEBATE ON 31 MAY WILL HAVE PROMPTED FURTHER PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF
THE DRAFT.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
48
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
LIMITED
*HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH (FE)
ADDITIONAL
3
MR EDWARDS LEG
LEG ADVISERS HR WHOMERSLEY LEG ADVISERS
୯୯୯୯
DISTRIBUTION
51
PAGE
PUSD
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR EGGAR
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
3
CONFIDENTIAL
MR FI FOOT H.KD.
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