TNAG-1985-FCO40-2818-Presentation-of-UK-policy-on-Hong-Kong-to-the-media-1989 — Page 88

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According to another source, not all these initiators were aware that they had attended a "party formation gathering". They thought it was just one of the activities organized by the Group of 89. Some of them, upon learning that a new political group was in the making, withdrew from the meeting to avoid getting involved.

It can

be seen that among those HK people who participate in political discussion, some are still wary about "forming parties".

Because of this, New HK Alliance did not wish to release the namelist of the initiators in the first place. Some of them, though wishing to take part, would like to remain anonymous, while some others just wanted to be affiliated to the group.

Then why was New HK Alliance set up in such a hurry? It is heard the initiators had intended to wait till the promulgation of the Basic Law and to study the possibility of organizing political parties under the Basic Law before laying down the programme and guiding principles of a "party". However, Stephen CHEONG and Martin LEE had already got started, asking the business magnates and financial groups for donations and seeking to absorb the current and former Legco and Exco members and civil servants into their group. While politics in HK is still at an immature stage, all the political groups depend on the appeal of political stars. Lacking an impressive number of members, the leading figures must be the glittering stars of the political arena. The group with the most "stars" will have an edge over the others. It would be easier to attract new members and to solicit donations. The late starters will find themselves stranded in a situation of lacking in both talents and funds.

HK political parties of various description

Exactly for this reason, a special characteristic of the political scene in HK is "the sooner you form a party the better". Instead of having a set of political principles first, and then to absorb people who share the same ideals to work together to achieve their common goals, a group of people, possibly of different political aspirations, are rounded up before the platform of the party is laid down.