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supporters of democracy had not felt it necessary to speak up when the Governor appeared unassailable. But since the tide had turned they were all speaking up supportively in public. They were, however, worried about the strength of HMG support, despite strong Ministerial pronouncements on this subject. The new LegCo members were also very good.
6.
Mr Goodlad wondered what might be done about this. Had the recent oral PQ on Hong Kong obtained much coverage? Mr Sze thought not much. The Governor and Chief Secretary were discussing this issue and believed a Commons debate might be a useful way to demonstrate the Parliamentary consensus. Some supporters felt they had been out on a limb in 1988 and wanted reassurance on this occasion. Mr Goodlad 7 pointed out that HMG could hope to control what was happening
at the moment, but not necessarily a Commons debate. Although Labour were supportive at present, they were bound to object to the proposed separation of LegCo and ExCo and the so-called lack of prior consultation with the Chinese. The newspaper headlines would concentrate on this and on other dissenting voices.
7. Mr Goodlad asked about civil service morale. Mr Sze thought this a nebulous entity. On the whole they were not natural democrats and saw the current lack of predictability as troublesome. Some were concerned about their post-1997 careers and were vulnerable to Chinese pressure. The Governor's tactic of seeing them in batches was right (it was a pity his diary had not allowed more of this). They needed to be inspired and told there was a strategy. Civil servants had performed well in the 1967 riots when they could see the choices clearly. They should be convinced that if they did not stand up for what they believed now they had little future. But most senior civil servants were not used to lobbying. They need to develop new skills.
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8.
Mr Ricketts saw no sign yet of a bandwagon in support of any particular alternative constitutional proposals. Mr Sze said that the Chinese thought they were winning a total
anti-Patten' campaign. They had therefore adopted a strategy of not talking or offering alternatives until the Governor's proposals - including non-controversial ones were withdrawn. The Business and Professional Federation thought they would please the Chinese by putting up alternatives but had been told off by the NCNA. Zhou Nan really hated the Governor and knew the latter thought little
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