CONFIDENTIAL
- 14 -
Chinese Comments on the role of Legco
Date
Official/Sources
Remarks
/Commentators
21.7.93
Ta Kung Pao
24.7.93
Lee Yee-ming in
Ta Kung Pao
27.7.93
Tsui Tong in HK
Commercial Daily
Appendix III
When Chris Patten said any agreements reached would have to be fair, open and acceptable to the people of HK, he was only trying to conceal the real message that "agreements reached have to be acceptable to Legco". In case Legco has to scrutinise Sino-British agreements, conditions not favourable to some councillors and as a result not favourable to the continuation of Britain's colonial interests here would
not be passed.
One of the "three false starts" Chris Patten completed before his vacation is to confirm the independence of the Legco Secretariat next year. It is another step in the separation of Exco and Legco suggested in the Patten package. The aim is to strengthen Legco's role in line with the normal "decolonialisation" procedure to transfer power from the executive to the legislature. In fact, the Governor even wants to give Legco veto power over political reforms.
When the Governor said he would step back
from the frontline after the 1995 elections, he was suggesting the transfer of power to a representative government and turning it into an independent entity. Similar measures were taken by the British in withdrawing from other colonies. As HK is not moving towards independence but is to be returned to China, this arrangement will inevitably create confrontation
between the political entity and the
Chinese Government, thus undermining HK's
smooth transition.
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.