TNAG-2718-FCO40-3924-Hong-Kong-electoral-provisions-and-arrangements-1993 — Page 133

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111356

MDHIAN 2491

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5. TODAY, THE TWO MAIN PRO-CHINA NEWSPAPERS HAVE COME OUT CRITICISING THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL. WEN WEI PO IN ITS EDITORIAL ARGUED THAT THE BILL WAS PART OF THE ELECTORAL PACKAGE WHICH COULD NOT BE DECOUPLED. ITS ENACTMENT WAS A JUMP START ATTEMPTING TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE CHINESE SIDE BY A FAIT ACCOMPLI AND WAS NOT IN LINE WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE THREE COMPLIANCES'' THIS WOULD AFFECT THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS. WITHOUT ANY CONSENSUS BETWEEN CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS, ANY ''JUMP, START ARRANGEMENTS WOULD NOT STRADDLE 1997. IT URGED THE BRITISH SIDE TO IMMEDIATELY STOP ANY 'JUMP START' DURING NEGOTIATIONS AND THAT THE BRITISH SIDE SHOULD SHOW SINCERITY IN ORDER TO ENSURE SUCCESS OF THE TALKS. IT ALSO SAID THAT THE BRITISH SIDE SHOULD BEAR ANY CONSEQUENCES FOR THE ''JUMP START''.

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F

6. THE TA KUNG PO HAS A SHORT ARTICLE ON THE ENACTMENT OF THE

BILL SAYING THAT IT WOULD CAUSE HINDRANCE TO THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS. IT ARGUED THAT THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL WAS AN UNILATERAL

ACTION BY THE BRITISH HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO LEGISLATE PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S ELECTORAL PACKAGE IN ADVANCE OF ANY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS ON THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS. IT FURTHER CRITICISED THAT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF THE ELECTED DB MEMBERS IMPLIED ABOLITION OF APPOINTED MEMBERSHIP AND EXPANSION OF DBS' FUNCTIONS AND POWERS. THESE PROPOSALS, ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE, HAD BEEN OPPOSED BY THE MAJORITY OF DB MEMBERS AND OTHER SECTORS

OF THE COMMUNITY.

PATTEN

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

.HK POLICY

HKD

PUSD

FED

65

DISTRIBUTION

72

NTCD

PLANNERS

RAD

PS

LEGAL ADVISERS//MS

BARRETT

LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS

LEGAL ADVISERS//MR GILES

PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES

MR HUM

NEWS D

7

ADDITIONAL

CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO)

CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES CAOFF//MR SIBSON

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