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MDHIN 0037
SO THAT THE POLITICAL SYSTEM BECAME MORE LEGISLATURE-LED.
(E) CONSTANTLY PRESSURISING THE CHINESE ON THE ISSUE OF THE NEW AIRPORT FINANCING PACKAGE AND ASKING THEM TO MAKE COMMITMENTS THAT ARE IN BREACH OF THE SPIRIT OF THE AIRPORT MOU.
(F) GIVING TACIT AGREEMENT FOR THE US TO INTERVENE IN HONG KONG
AFFAIRS. THIS IS A REFERENCE TO THE MACCONNELL BILL. THE CHINESE SIDE HAD INDICATED ITS NON-ACCEPTANCE OF THIS THROUGH DIPLOMATIC
CHANNELS. BUT THE BRITISH SIDE HAD DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT.
4. THE COMMENTARY NOTED THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD SAID IT
WOULD CONTINUE TO STEP UP CO-OPERATION WITH CHINA AND FULFIL ITS
OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION. IT HAD ALSO SAID THAT IT HAD NO INTENTION OF CHANGING
THE EXECUTIVE-LED SYSTEM. THIS WAS TO BE WELCOMED. THE BRITISH
SIDE SHOULD NOT TOLERATE AND SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO INSISTED ON
OPPOSING THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND THE BASIC LAW. IT SHOULD ALSO
NOT PLAN TO CHANGE THE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES OF EXCO OR THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXCO AND LEGCO, OR ALLOW A THIRD COUNTRY TO PARTICIPATE IN HONG KONG MATTERS. THE CHINESE SIDE WAS NATURALLY
GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT BRITISH ACTIONS.
5. THE ARTICLE SAYS THAT AS THE NEW GOVERNOR WILL BE CARRYING OUT
BRITAIN'S ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES IN HONG KONG FOR THE LAST FIVE
YEARS OF BRITISH RULE, HIS RESPONSIBILITIES ARE GREAT. HIS ROLE HINGES ON NOT WHETHER HE HAS A QUOTE NEW POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG
UNQUOTE BUT RATHER ON WHETHER HE CAN FULLY IMPLEMENT THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE MOU, STEP UP CO-OPERATION WITH CHINA, SATISFACTORILY RESOLVE THE QUESTION OF CONVERGENCE, UPHOLD HONG
KONG'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY AND ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSFER TO
1997.
6. THE TEXT OF THE ARTICLE AND A TRANSLATION ARE BEING FAXED TO RICKETTS, HKD AND TO PEKING.
WILSON
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