UNCLASSIFIED
174161
MDHIAN
4
PEOPLE'S ORGANISATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT. THE ASSOCIATION WAS SAID TO BE DISSATISFIED WITH MR GOODLAD'S REPLY AS THEY BELIEVED FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS VIOLATED THE BILL OF RIGHTS. AS FOR MR GOODLAD'S POINT THAT IN RATIFYING THE ICCPR THE HMG HAD ENTERED RESERVATION AGAINST APPLYING ARTICLE 25(B) IN HK, THE ASSOCIATION THOUGHT THAT THE RESERVATION DID RELIEVE HMG OF THE OBLIGATION TO INTRODUCE DIRECT ELECTIONS FOR EXCO AND LEGCO. BUT ONCE IT HAD BEEN DECIDED TO INTRODUCE ELECTIONS FOR LEGCO, THE ELECTIONS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLE OF FAIR AND UNIVERSAL ELECTIONS.
JLG
5. SING TAO DAILY SAID IT WAS VERY LIKELY THAT AGREEMENT WOULD BE REACHED ON THE CT9 PROJECT AND A NUMBER OF ASAS AT JLG XXVI. NO BREAKTHROUGH WAS HOWEVER EXPECTED ON DEFENCE LANDS. QUOTING CHINESE SOURCES, THE REPORT SAID THAT CHINA WOULD ADOPT A POSITIVE ATTITUDE ON ISSUES WHICH WERE IN HK'S INTERESTS.
TALKS
6. HKMAO VICE-DIRECTOR WANG QIREN WAS REPORTED TO HAVE SAID ON 19 JUNE THAT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES WOULD BE DECOUPLED. THE NEW AIRPORT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AIRPORT MOU, WHEREAS THE POLITICAL TALKS SHOULD BE BASED ON THE ''THREE CONFORMITIES''. HE URGED FOR SINCERITY ON THE PART OF THE BRITISH SIDE AND SAID THAT PROSPECTS FOR THE TALKS WERE ON THE WHOLE
POSITIVE.
7. LEFT-WING COMMENTARIES AND A NUMBER OF HK AFFAIRS ADVISERS CONTINUED THEIR ATTACKS IN FAMILIAR TERMS ON THE GOVERNOR FOR LACK OF SINCERITY, MISLEADING THE PUBLIC ON THE PROGRESS OF TALKS AND ATTEMPTING TO REVIVE A THREE-LEGGED STOOL SITUATION.
POLL
8. A POLL WAS CONDUCTED ON 18 JUNE BY THE HK POLLING AND BUSINESS RESEARCH CENTRE TO WHICH 435 PERSONS RESPONDED. THE RESULTS CARRIED ON THE SCMP ON 20 JUNE WERE AS FOLLOWS:
A) THE GOVERNOR SHOULD RECOMMEND TO THE CABINET THAT THE TALKS SHOULD CONTINUE AT ALL COSTS.
AGREE:
71 PERCENT
PAGE 2 UNCLASSIFIED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.