UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 404
OF 13050OZ MARCH 93
UNCLASSIFIED
HKB
012/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
15 MAR 1993
DESK OFFICEM
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
Acc. Take
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
p.a. Con. Deypt. ра
(Fusme (sen)
81
057565
MDLIAN 0245
TOP CGRY Q DIST O
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: GAZETTAL OF BILL: LOCAL REACTION.
SUMMARY
1.
LOCAL PRESS REPORTED PROMINENTLY REACTIONS FROM MAJOR POLITICAL GROUPS TO THE GAZETTAL. A SURVEY BY MING PAO SHOWS MAJORITY OF PEOPLE STILL BELIEVE TALKS CAN RESUME.
DETAIL
2.
MARTIN LEE (UDHK) SAID THE DECISION TO GAZETTE THE BILL WAS CORRECT. HE STILL HOPED THAT THE TWO GOVERNMENTS COULD RESUME TALKS, ADDING THAT THE BILL SHOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO LEGCO NEXT WEEK. LEGCO'S CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL, IT WOULD HELP THE TWO GOVERNMENTS UNDERSTAND THE COUNCIL'S VIEW AND ENSURE AN AGREEMENT ACCEPTABLE TO LEGCO. SZETO WAH URGED THE TWO GOVERNMENTS TO RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES AND REFRAIN FROM DOING ANYTHING THAT WOULD HARM HONG
KONG'S ECONOMY.
3. ALLEN LEE (CRC) SAID THE GAZETTAL WAS NOT PRUDENT AND WAS A STEP BACKWARD. THE GAZETTAL IN THE MIDST OF CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES WOULD NOT HELP THE WHOLE SITUATION.
4. LEONG CHE-HUNG (MEETING POINT) SAID IT WAS A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THE COMMUNITY WOULD NOW KNOW THE GOVERNMENT'S STAND. GAZETTAL AND INTRODUCTION TO LEGCO COULD PROCEED IN PARALLEL WITH TALKS. HE WAS HOWEVER WORRIED THAT THE BILL COULD STILL BE WITHDRAWN FROM LEGCO AT A LATER STAGE. FRED LI SAID THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION WAS
ACCEPTABLE.
5. TAM YIU-CHUNG (DAB) SAID THE DECISION WAS UNWISE, IMPATIENT AND RASH WHEN TALKS WERE STILL GOING ON. BOTH SIDES NEEDED MORE TIME TO ESTABLISH CONFIDENCE. IT WOULD HAVE NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE RESUMPTION OF TALKS. HE SAID THE GOVERNOR WAS TRYING TO 'SAVE FACE' FOR HIMSELF AND HAD DISREGARDED HONG KONG INTERESTS.
PAGE 1 UNCLASSIFIED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.