19:02
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
852 810 1592 P.03
In 1992, London created a Governor who was in line for retirement. characteristic lameness became apparent but he was faced with a Légco with endless power struggles. Is his phased withdrawal being speeded up now in order that Legco could make decisions on an increasing number of issues?
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The characteristics of a retiring lame duck is first, he is not fa position to decide on a great many matters. Secondly, he must make believe that he could do nothing amidst certain drastic changes. During the year, the Governor's job has merely been to oversee the work of the Administration. However, Britain had a mind to push for more radical changes in HK's political system. The abnormal phenomenon in Legco over the last six months was incidentally the result of Britain's bid to pass more power (to the assembly), in line with the efforts in some quarters to secure increased authority. There was on the one hand a party who was prepared to give and on the other one who received indications to seek. And the Governor's phased retreat from Legco on a voluntary basis was seen to have been arranged well in advance.
What the British would be up to in the coming year, following the Bill of Rights, the British nationality package and the quickened pace in the introduction of representative government was worthy attention. The early announcement of the Governor's retirement is a flexible arrangement. Should anything untoward happen, the buck could be passed to HK people under the pretext of "returning power to Legco".
Under the Sino-British arrangement for the latter part of the transition and the Memorandum of Understanding on the airport released on July 4, HK and Macau Affairs Office Director Lu Ming and HK Governor Sir David Wilson should have regular meetings, to discuss arrangements for the transition, However, what role can a "about-to-retire" Governor play in such consultations? Wouldn't he say, "I'm going to retire. Let the next Governor take up these matters.
How
From now on until the general election in Britain, clouds of uncertainties will hang over HK because of the "change of governor” question. Last September a columnist by the name of Norman Macrae, writing a strange article in The Sunday Times, strongly urged the British Government to change the Governor for a tougher person. tough should he be? The writer said the Governor should have the character of a buccaneer. And in HK, someone, in explaining the background for the change of the Governor, even said," He is to be. replaced because he is not tough with China". This is perhaps a kind
It's simply an attempt by of media publicity and a kind of threat.
Britain. to let the question of undecided personnel persist for a period
Such a period of time to facilitate ita preparations for the retreat.
will also be used to test the bottom line of China for bargaining before a more definite answer will be given in the second half of the year.
TOTAL. P.03.
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