TNAG-2494-FCO40-3626-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1992 — Page 128

GF 323

CONFIDENTIAL

(d)

As

a

result,

機密

the community is readier

to

express negative reactions to the package

(e.g., in public opinion polls). The media

frustrated by crises

confrontations which, in essence,

has

become

and

are replays

of past wrangles (e.g., the JD, BL, airport,

Court of Final Appeal).

THE HONG KONG PSYCHE

5.

"impasse"

The CPG can exploit the tensions produced by the

persuade the territory that the only

effect

to

solution is to seek CPG goodwill. The CPG's local apparatus

has taken several steps to intensify the sense of crisis:

(a) Business confidence.

The CPG's threats to

abandon all "through-trains" for 1997 make

businessmen fear that the

future commercial

environment may also be at risk. They tend to

view HKG's

primary duty

as the avoidance of

any

political decisions

which could endanger

potential profits.

CONFIDENTIAL #