The electronic media, being preoccupied with other matters, and sensing as yet no great controversy, have given the speech relatively little coverage.
On the political front, there has been a helpful statement from
Mr Paddy Ashdown, who was fully briefed by the Governor during his recent visit to Hong Kong. He described the package as 'imaginative', forward-looking and robust', adding that it
was essential Mr Patten should now 'show the stomach' to stand
up to Peking.
The Hong Kong Association (Sir Charles Powell) issued a
welcoming statement (7 Oct) and said the proposals would
strengthen confidence in Hong Kong.
The Chinese reaction has, so far, been relatively low-key, but is building up. Without going into details, the New China News Agency in Hong Kong (7 Oct) complained that Mr Patten was being "irresponsible and reckless" and Lu Ping (the Hong Kong and
Macao Office Director) regretted that the constitutional
proposals had been made without prior consultation with the
Chinese.
The next day, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, in
response to questions, said that major changes were being
proposed to the existing system, that this was not consistent with the spirit of the Joint Declaration, and that the proposals
could therefore constitute obstacles to a smooth transition.
These remarks are now being replayed in the Chinese press in Peking and Hong Kong and represent the main thrust of the Chinese objections. The Peking Peoples Daily ( 7 Oct) expresses 'deep concern' and accuses Mr Patten of ignoring China's
messages asking for cooperation and consultation. It repeats that if there is not convergence with the Basic Law in 1997, the
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