TNAG-2079-FCO40-2959-Hong-Kong-press-coverage-and-reports-1990 — Page 364

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIE

HKB 301

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

20 FEB 1990

DECK OFFICER

MDA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

067704 MDLIAN 4511

FM HONG KONG

TELNO 379

TO PRIORITY FCO

OF 31103OZ JANUARY 90

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, PEKING

INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK INFO ROUTINE HKGO SAN FRANCISCO, HKGO BRUSSELS, HKGO GENEVA INFO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: PRESS COVERAGE: WEEKLY ROUNDUP

SUMMARY

1. THERE WERE VERY FEW NEWS ITEMS DURING THE WEEK DUE TO THE CHINESE NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS. NEWS RELATING TO THE BASIC LAW CONTINUED

TO DRAW GOOD MEDIA COVERAGE.

BASIC LAW

2. THE MEDIA (24 AND 25.1) ACCORDED PROMINENT AND EXTENSIVE COVERAGE TO NEWS RELATING TO AN ENLARGED MEETING OF THE BLDC DIRECTOR, VICE-DIRECTORS AND CONVENORS OF VARIOUS SPECIAL GROUPS IN GUANGZHOU. THE REPORTS SAID THAT THE MEETING ENDORSED THE POLITICAL MODEL ADOPTED BY THE BLDC SPECIAL GROUP ON THE FUTURE POLITICAL STRUCTURE AND ONLY MADE SOME MINOR WORDING CHANGES. IT WAS ALSO DECIDED THAT THE MODEL WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE BLDC PLENUM SCHEDULED TO BE HELD IN PEKING BETWEEN FEBRUARY 12 AND 17. PARTICIPANTS AT THE MEETING ENDORSED THE VOTING PROCEDURES FOR THE PLENARY SESSION UNDER WHICH ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE DRAFT BL HAD TO BE SUPPORTED BY TWO-THIRDS OF THE MEMBERS. ANY NEW PROPOSAL OR VIEW TO BE PUT FORWARD AT THE PLENUM WOULD REQUIRE THE ENDORSEMENT OF FIVE DRAFTERS BEFORE IT COULD BE CONSIDERED.

3. THE GOVERNOR, SAID THAT HE HOPED THAT WHEN THE BLDC HELD ITS PLENARY SESSION IN FEBRUARY, THE DRAFTERS WOULD TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS WHICH HAD BEEN EXPRESSED STRONGLY IN HK, THE MEDIA (24.1) REPORTED. THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN FOLLOWING THE BL DRAFTING PROCESS WITH A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST. ''THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE UPSHOT SO FAR OF THE DRAFTING ON THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE HAD BEEN A DISAPPOINTMENT TO MANY PEOPLE IN HK''. BUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IS AFTER ALL A SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING AND THERE WILL BE A PLENARY SESSION OF THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE IN FEBRUARY, HE SAID.

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