CONFIDENTIAL
112451
MDLIAN 7896
BEEN MORE DIFFICULT AND TIME CONSUMING. WE HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO PARTY POLITICS AND FACTIONAL INTERESTS WHEN PUTTING FORWARD DIFFICULT PROPOSALS TO LEGCO. EXTRA EFFORTS HAVE TO BE MADE TO PRESENT THE ADMINISTRATION'S CASE BEFORE THE MULTIFARIOUS COMMITTEES OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS' INSATIABLE DEMAND FOR MORE INFORMATION HAS TO BE SATISFIED AND INTENSIVE LOBBYING EFFORTS IN DIFFICULT SUBJECTS ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE ACCEPTANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS.
22. AT THE FORMAL LEVEL, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED ADDITIONAL CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION WITH LEGCO. THESE INCLUDE THE MONTHLY GOVERNOR'S QUESTION SESSIONS, REGULAR BRIEFING SESSIONS BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN ADDITION TO REGULAR ATTENDANCE BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS BEFORE THE RELEVANT COMMITTEES OF THE COUNCIL. OUR PROPOSAL FOR A HINGE BODY AS A FORUM TO DISCUSS WITH LEGCO THE HANDLING OF LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCIAL PROGRAMME HAS UNFORTUNATELY BEEN TURNED DOWN BY LEGCO MEMBERS LARGELY BECAUSE OF THEIR DIFFICULTIES IN SORTING OUT A REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERSHIP FOR THE COMMITTEE.
23. NOTWITHSTANDING THE CHANGED POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IN LEGCO, THE ADMINISTRATION IS STILL IN FORM CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT AGENDA THAT REQUIRE LEGCO SUPPORT. LOOKING AHEAD, THE EARLY PART OF THE NEXT SESSION WILL BE DOMINATED BY THE DEBATE ON CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES, AND WITH THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS DRAWING NEAR WE CAN EXPECT MORE POLITICKING IN LEGCO AS THE VARIOUS POLITICAL FORCES START JOCKEYING FOR THE BEST POSITION.
FORD
YYYY
MAIN
.HK POLICY
HKD
PUSD
FED
59
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT
LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS
LEGAL ADVISERS//MR GILES
NEWS D
ADDITIONAL
CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO) CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
66
NTCD
PLANNERS
RAD
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
MR HUM
PAGE
2
CONFIDENTIAL
CAOFF//MR SIBSON
PS NO 10.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.