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THE GOVERNOR AND HMG AND DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE JLG. OBJECTING TO THIS STANCE, THE ARTICLE ARGUED THAT ACCORDING TO ANNEX II OF THE JD, THE SINO-BRITISH JLG HAD THE DUTY TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JD AND A SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT IN 1997.
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IN CONTRAST TODAY'S HONG KONG DAILY NEWS WAS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL OF GUO SAYING THAT HIS REMARKS HAD VIOLATED THE JD AS QUOTE HE HAD INTERFERRED WITH THE BRITISH ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS IN HONG KONG.. HE HAD ALSO QUOTE UNDERMINED PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS FORMULA UNQUOTE.
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WAH KIU YAT PO (22 JUNE) EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT, COMING ON TOP OF THE AIRPORT FINANCING ROW, WOULD CAST ANOTHER SHADOW OVER SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS. THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC TIMES (22 JUNE) WAS CRITICAL OF BOTH THE CHINESE AND HMG. WHILE POINTING OUT THAT GUO'S REMARKS INDICATED CHINESE SUSPICIONS ABOUT BRITISH ATTEMPTS TO MAKE USE OF THE LIBERALS TO COUNTER CHINA'S ATTEMPT TO SPEED UP ITS INTERVENTION IN HONG KONG AFFAIRS, THE EDITORIAL CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT QUOTE PEOPLE SHOULD WATCH THE BRITISH CLOSELY TO SEE WHETHER THEY WOULD RESORT TO POLITICAL TRICKS TO BARGAIN FOR A CHINESE COMPROMISE IN THE AIRPORT FINANCING NEGOTIATIONS UNQUOTE.
IN A COMMENTARY, SING TAO DAILY (22 JUNE) STRESSED THAT THE APPOINTMENT OF EXCO MEMBERS WAS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNOR. THE PAPER URGED HMG TO STAND FIRM IN OPPOSING CHINESE INTERVENTION.
A COPY OF THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE TA KUNG PAO EDITORIAL AND THE WEN WEI PAO ARTICLE WILL BE SENT TO YOU BY FAX.
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FOR PEKING: PLEASE PASS TO MR. MICHAEL SZE (VISITING).
WILSON
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