TNAG-2770-FCO40-3987-Coverage-of-Sino-British-talks-in-the-Hong-Kong-press-1993 — Page 314

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COMMISSION WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED. SCMP QUOTED MR SUN AS ACKNOWLEDGING THE BRITISH SIDE HAD ALREADY SUBMITTED ITS 1993-94 LAND DISPOSAL PROGRAMME FOR CONSIDERATION AND WHETHER THE LAND COMMISSION WOULD RESUME MEETING WOULD DEPEND ON CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES. MR SUN ADDED ANY ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY SHOULD BE BORNE BY THE BRITISH SIDE. HE ALSO SAID RAISING INCOME WAS NOT THE MAJOR CONSIDERATION AND THE CHINESE SIDE WAS EAGER TO SEE THE ANNUAL LAND GRANT MAINTAINED AT ABOUT 50 HECTARES. MR SUN ALSO CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR PUBLICISING A HOUSING SCHEME FOR THE SANDWICH CLASS AND SAID THE AGENDA OF LAND COMMISSION SHOULD NOT BE DISCLOSED.

SURVEYS 30.

SING TAO DAILY CONDUCTED AN OPINION POLL YESTERDAY EVENING (18.3) AFTER LU PING'S PRESS CONFERENCE. AMONG THE 622 RESPONDENTS ABOUT 60 PERCENT DID NOT AGREE WITH MR LU'S REMARK THAT IT WAS THE BRITISH SIDE'S ACTIONS WHICH MADE IT NOT POSSIBLE FOR TALKS. ON THE POSSIBILITY OF RE-OPENING TALKS 81 PERCENT FELT THERE WAS STILL SUCH A POSSIBILITY. 76 PERCENT DID NOT AGREE TO MR LU'S REMARKS THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS IGNORING HK PEOPLE'S INTERESTS AND WAS A ''MAN OF GUILT'' IN THE HISTORY OF HK. ON WHETHER THE GOVERNOR SHOULD GAZETTE THE REFORM BILL, VIEWS WERE DIVIDED: 37.5 PERCENT SUPPORTED WHILE 36.3 PERCENT OBJECTED. IN ANOTHER SURVEY COMMISSIONED BY MING PAO, (19.3) MORE THAN 40 PERCENT OF 614 RESPONDENTS FELT BOTH CHINESE AND BRITISH SIDES SHOULD MAKE CONCESSIONS TO ENABLE TALKS TO BE RE- OPENED. 60.4 PERCENT OPPOSED CHINA'S PROPOSAL TO SET UP ANOTHER KITCHEN.

31. THE POST NOTED (20.3) PROMINENTLY RESULTS OF A TELEPHONE POLL COMMISSIONED BY THE PAPER REVEALED THAT 68 PERCENT OF THE 582 RESPONDENTS SAID IF THERE WERE TALKS, THEY SHOULD NOT BE KEPT SECRET. 53.4 PERCENT OF THEM SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHO SHOULD BE BLAMED FOR THE FAILURE OF TALKS. ON QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE GOVERNOR'S PERFORMANCE WHICH WERE ANSWERED BY 668 RESPONDENTS, 44 PERCENT SAID HE SHOULD REMAIN IN OFFICE UNTIL 1997 AND ONLY 25 PERCENT SAID HE SHOULD NOT, WHILE 31 PERCENT DID NOT KNOW. REPORTS SAID VIEWS WERE SPLIT ON WHETHER THE GOVERNOR WAS RIGHT TO GAZETTE THE BILL WITH 35.3 PERCENT SUPPORTING, 32.8 PERCENT OPPOSING AND 31.8 PERCENT NOT KNOWING.

PATTEN