TNAG-2047-FCO40-2917-Visits-by-staff-of-the-Department-of-Trade-and-Industry-to-H-1990 — Page 142

HONG KONG BACKGROUND BRIEF

HONG KONG: POLITICAL GROUPINGS

1. The political scene in Hong Kong has changed significantly in the last few months as a result of intense debate among the various political groups about the pace of

political development before and after 1997. This has taken place in the context of the Basic Law and the composition of LegCo in 1991 and in the approach to the elections in 1991.

2. After prolonged discussions amongst the Liberal groups about forming a political party, the United Democrats of

Hong Kong (UDHK) was finally established. This is the first

group formally to declare itself a political party with the

aim of fielding candidates in the 1991 LegCo elections. There is a high degree of cross membership between the UDHK and the other Liberal groups. One third of the new party's 216 founding members are already members of other groups Meeting Point, the Hong Kong Affairs Society, the

Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood (ADPL) and

member organisations of the Joint Committee on the Promotion

of Democratic Government. These groups still intend to maintain their separate identities. The ADPL intends to conduct its affairs as before and support its own electoral candidates. Meeting Point and the Hong Kong Affairs Society

now have their roles more clearly defined as watchdogs on political, social and economic developments.

3.

The UDHK is lead by Martin Lee an outspoken liberal member of LegCo. He is a popular politician and opinion

polls have so far indicated that were he to stand for the

position of Chief Executive (the new title of the Governor

post-1997), he would be elected. Lee is also at present a member of the Hong Kong Alliance in support of Democratic

Patriotic Movements in China but is considering withdrawing

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