TNAG-2446-FCO40-3562-Political-parties-in-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 20

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053677

MDLIAN 3413

SIDE. SOME PAPERS (22.9) QUOTING HKG SOURCES, STRESSED IT WAS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE THAT BOTH HKG AND SAR SHOULD SHARE THE COSTS FOR HK'S FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE, IN PARTICULAR THE AIRPORT WOULD BE IN USE, AFTER 1997 AND WOULD BRING REVENUE TO THE SAR.

8.

THE GOVERNOR'S REMARKS RECEIVED PROMINENT COVERAGE (23.9). THE GOVERNOR SAID THE LATEST BRITISH PROPOSAL WAS PUT FORWARD WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS AND IN GOOD FAITH. HE SAID HE DID NOT THINK IT WAS FAIR TO EXPECT THE HK TAXPAYERS TO MAKE ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS WHILE ALL THE GAIN WAS MADE BY THE SAR. THE GOVERNOR REJECTED THE BRITISH PROPOSAL WAS A BREACH OF THE JD, AND REITERATED THAT IT WAS BASED ON CHINESE SUGGESTIONS IN THE HOPE PEKING WOULD GIVE A POSITIVE RESPONSE TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THE PLAN.

GOVERNOR

9.

THE MEDIA CARRIED PROMINENT REPORTS (16.9) ON THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO LONDON. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT HK PEOPLE WANTED MORE DEMOCRACY AND A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND THAT ALL OPTIONS WERE BEING CONSIDERED. SPEAKING ON HIS RETURN, THE GOVERNOR SAID (17.9) HE HAD CONSTRUCTIVE MEETINGS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AND SENIOR BRITISH MINISTERS. REPORTS NOTED THAT CHINA WOULD BE INFORMED OF THE CONTENT OF THE GOVERNOR'S FIRST POLICY SPEECH BEFORE HIS ADDRESS ON 7 OCTOBER. ON HIS TRIP TO PEKING, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE MAIN AIM WAS TO ESTABLISH A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIALS.

OUTLOOK

10. AN ARTICLE IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF OUTLOOK WEEKLY ON THE 1995 POLLS STRESSED (13.9) ONLY CONVERGENCE COULD ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND THAT THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES SHOULD DISCUSS AND CO-OPERATE ON THE MATTER. THE ARTICLE SAID THAT ELECTED LEGISLATORS IN THE 1995 POLLS HAD TO CONVERGE WITH BL PROVISIONS IN ORDER TO RIDE THE THROUGH TRAIN TO 1997.

SURVEYS

11. A POLL CARRIED OUT BY THE STANDARD INDICATED (14.9) THAT 77 PER CENT OF THE 578 RESPONDENTS FELT SATISFIED WITH THE GOVERNOR'S PERFORMANCE. A SCMP SURVEY FOUND (14.9) THAT 43 PER CENT OF THE 411 PEOPLE WANTED PEKING TO ALLOW LEGISLATORS TO REMAIN IN OFFICE BEYOND THE TRANSITION. THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT THE UDHK REMAINED HK'S TOP POLITICAL PARTY, WITH 46 PER CENT OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THEY WERE FIRM SUPPORTERS.

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