TNAG-2449-FCO40-3565-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 55

CODE 18-77

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference..

4. It is even possible that directly-elected members might use the same arguments, particularly if there is a strong reason to believe that public opinion is supportive of the proposals but against going ahead with them. Public opinion is the constituency of the directly-elected members. If they took no account of it they would lay themselves open to the charge that the appointed members and functional constituency members were being more responsive to public opinion than the directly-elected members.

5.

The conclusion must be that as the months pass the mood in Legco is going to be more and more strongly in favour of a compromise solution. If such a solution is not on offer the abstention rate amongst the "Independents" could well be high in any vote on the Governor's proposals or on something very like them, and they would be passed only with the votes of the Official Members, or not at all.

Varetta Medall

J N Marshall

Hong Kong Department WH305

270-3287

1 December 1992

be

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a chinele wary of saying that doubts. I sulpict that some may

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WB ./x..

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I have heard that the mistolle

rehiäble

precedent for the future. The liberals Are still strong heftimited, but this

Expertive could change of compromise solutions are seriously floates.

floated.pl

X1/12

CONFIDENTIAL