CONFIDENTIAL
VISIT BY MR GOODLAD: 11-12 OCTOBER: MOOD OF THE COMMUNITY
SUMMARY
When the Minister of State ended his last visit in June this year, Hong Kong had high hopes of reaching a workable compromise at the Sino-British negotiations in Peking. Since then, Hong Kong has begun to recognise that the talks may not be successful. Even so, a large majority wish us to keep talking to Peking, in the hope of prolonging for as long as possible the relative calm in the politica (and, hence, the commercial) environment. In these circumstances, public opinion is likely to react nervously if we have nothing positive to report after the two Foreign Ministers meet in New York on 1 October. However, I hope that my Policy Address to the Legislative Council will assist the community to reach a sensible and realistic view of the situation (as it has done so often before) by the time of the Minister of State's visit.
PUBLIC SUPPORT: STILL THERE
2. HKG continues to draw considerable strength from the large margin by which the community continues to support the principles that lie behind the constitutional package put forward in October 1992 and the most important proposals. A poll conducted on 23-24 September showed that the the expansion of functional constituencies was supported by 59 per cent of respondents. A significant majority (58 per cent) also continues to support an increase in the number of directly elected seats. Another poll conducted on 8-9 September showed that nearly 70 per cent of respondents were opposed to any secret deal with the CPG. A Ming Pao poll conducted at the same time claimed that 44 per cent were opposed to making any concessions, even in exchange for agreement to the airport (against 32 per cent who wished to put the airport in the frame).
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