CONFIDENTIAL
066627
MDLIAN 6498
DISCREDITED DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, AND WE SHOULD SEEK TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS. AS FAR AS THE JLG IS CONCERNED I WOULD SEE THIS AS INVOLVING NOT ONLY A FIRMER DEFENCE IN PRIVATE OF HKG DECISIONS, FOR EXAMPLE ON DEFENCE LANDS, BUT ALSO A MORE OPEN PUBLIC DEFENCE OF OUR OBJECTIVES IN THE JLG PROCESS.
5. IN TERMS OF WHAT IS ON OUR POWER IN RELATION TO DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG YOU ARE PRESUMABLY FOLLOWING UP THE SUGGESTIONS IN THE FAC REPORT. I FIND THE ARGUMENTS IN SECTION 3 IN FAVOUR OF A RAPID MOVE TO A FULL DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM ENTIRELY PERSUASIVE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT A SUFFICIENT BODY OF COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG'S LONG-TERM FUTURE CAN BE BUILT UP. THE SUGGESTION IN 3.16 OF THAT REPORT FOR A LOCAL PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AT SOME POINT AFTER 1991 WOULD ASSIST IN PROMOTING A MORE INDEPENDENT METALITY AMONG HONG KONG PEOPLE. IT SHOULD BE OUR AIM TO PROMOTE A LOCAL FIGURE AROUND WHOM SENTIMENT CAN RALLY. IT IS ONLY SUCH STRENGTH THAT WILL ALLOW HONG KONG TO BECOME A VIABLE PLAYER IN CHINESE POLITICS IN THE LONGER-TERM. IF WE ALLOW THE CHINESE TO IMPOSE THEIR OWN IDEAS OF DEMOCRACY AND PATRIOTISM, I BELIEVE WE WILL BE ACCEPTING THE INEXORABLE DECLINE OF HONG KONG.
6. IT IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WE MUST MOVE TOWARDS AN EXPLICIT DELINEATION OF A HONG KONG IDENTITY THAT I BELIEVE WE MUST ALSO BOOST HMG'S ROLE HERE. AT THE MOMENT FEW BELIEVE HMG'S COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG IS VERY DEEP. A POTENT SYMBOL OF THIS IS OUR FAILURE TO MAKE PROGRESS TOWARDS A NEW CONSULATE-GENERAL. BY THIS I MEAN NOT ONLY THE BUILDING BUT THE ORGANISATION. AS I HAVE ARGUED IN THE PAST (MY LETTERS OF 30 MAY OR 6 JULY TO PAUL) I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT A COORDINATED HMG PRESENCE IS ESTABLISHED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THERE ARE ISSUES, INCLUDING SOME VERY IMPORTANT ONES, WHERE HMG'S VIEW DIFFERS FROM HKG'S AND WHERE OUR VOICE AND INFLUENCE SHOULD BE BEING
HEARD AND FELT NOW.
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7 I HAVE SEEN BTC TELNO 375 WHICH OFFERS A NUMBER OF USEFUL SUGGESTIONS. I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO COMMENT ON MANY OF THEM, BUT I ENDORSE THE EMPHASIS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, NOTABLY THE AIRPORT.
MARTIN
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