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MDHIAN 91
WEAKER AMONGST WHAT IT CALLS THE GRASSROOTS. THERE WAS A HIGH LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR THE WELFARE PROPOSALS, AND ALMOST 90 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS WELCOMED THE GOVERNOR'S ACCESSIBLE STYLE.
5.
THE MAINSTREAM CHINESE LANGUAGE PRESS CONTINUES TO DISPLAY A GOOD DEAL OF ANGST OVER THE PRC REACTION TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE ORIENTAL DAILY SAID ON 10 OCTOBER THAT QUOTE THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE AIRPORT AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT MUST BE SETTLED QUICKLY. THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS HAS INCREASED THE MISTRUST IN THE SINO-BRITISH RELATIONSHIP AND IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT THESE ISSUES CAN BE SETTLED DURING MR. PATTEN'S VISIT TO PEKING UNQUOTE. THE UNITED DAILY NEWS SAID THAT THE POLITICAL REFORMS SHOULD BE REGARDED AS NO MORE THAN PROPOSALS AND THAT CHINA'S VIEWS SHOULD BE THE BASIS FOR AMENDMENTS. QUOTE WITH OUT CHINA'S CO-OPERATION ON THIS ISSUE A SMOOTH TRANSITION WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE UNQUOTE.
6.
THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL WAS MORE ROBUST, ARGUING THAT THE POLITICAL REFORMS WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW. THE WRITER SAID QUOTE UNLESS CHINA CAN MOBILISE PUBLIC OPINION AGAINST THE PROPOSALS, MR. PATTEN IS UNLIKELY TO CHANGE THEM. ALL THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT THE PUBLIC SUPPORT THE PROPOSALS UNQUOTE. THE PAPER CONCLUDED QUOTE THE POLICY ADDRESS IS AN INTELLIGENT PACKAGE AIMED AT INCREASING DEMOCRACY WITHIN THE BL CONSTRAINTS. NONETHELESS, THE PACKAGE WILL BE A DELICATE FLOWER WITHOUT THE ACQUIESCENCE OF THE PRC UNQUOTE.
7. THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PRESS HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE GOVERNOR'S CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS. THE EDITORIALS AND THE COMMENTARIES HAVE BACKED THE SPEECH IN GENERAL AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS IN PARTICULAR. A POLL PUBLISHED IN THE SUNDAY POST RECORDED 73 PERCENT SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSITION THAT CHINA SHOULD ACCEPT THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS. HOWEVER, 49 PERCENT THOUGHT CHINA UNLIKELY TO DO SO. 56 PERCENT SAID THAT THEY WOULD LIKE THE GOVERNOR TO PRESS AHEAD EVEN IF THIS MADE THE LEGCO THROUGH TRAIN IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE.
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WE HAVE REPORTED SEPARATELY ON THE CONTINUING BARRAGE OF CRITICISM FORM THE LEST WING PRESS. IN ESSENCE, THE POINTS THEY MAKE ARE THAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD HAVE CONSULTED CHINA BEFORE PRESENTING HIS PROPOSALS AND THAT THE PROPOSALS RUN COUNTER TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE BASIC LAW. THE WRITERS HAVE HAD SOME DIFFICULTY MAKING THEIR CASE, AND THEY USUALLY RESORT TO CALLING
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