Governor 'lacking sincerity'
Democratic Party leader Martin Lee Chu-ming accused Governor Chris Patten of lacking sincerity in his opposition to the provisional legislature.
Seven of the party's legislators met Mr Patten yesterday to put forward proposals for his final policy address on October 2.
After the meeting, Mr Lee asked why the Governor had allowed Exco members Vincent Cheng Hoi-chuen and Raymond Ch'ien Kuo-fung to run for seats on the Selection Committee, but barred senior civil servants from doing so.
Mr Lee said there was no excuse for such double standards.
It showed the Governor was not sincere in his fight against the setting up of the interim legislature, he said.
Mr Lee is seeking a London QC's opinion on a challenge to the constitutionality of the provisional legislature, and expects to receive it this week.
Unionists who met Mr Patten yesterday said he had promised them surprises in the policy address.
Lee Cheuk-yan, a legislator, said the Government should introduce new initiatives to stop the gap between rich and poor growing.
'It is important that the Government should not have any regression in social welfare or assistance to the poor,' he said.
