FINALLY, we have talks. What we now need is a quick conclusion to the talks, so that all the important matters, such as the airport, which have been pending, can be attended to without further delay. This can be achieved if both sides stop putting up obstacles during the negotiations. One such obstacle had been created by the British side with its insistence that if agreement is reached, the 1995 legislature will automatically serve in the first legislature of the Special Administrative Region. It would not help Hongkong if talks finally broke down over this issue. This condition is just as unacceptable as the Chinese side's condition that the agreement reached will be automatically passed by the Legislative Council. Common sense tells us that unless the agreement is so bad it is laughable, the Legislative Council will approve it with no amendments. Common sense also tells us, that the work to be done in order to have the whole 1995 Legislature ratified by the Preparatory Committee to serve in the first term SAR, will need to done by the people of Hongkong, and not by the British Government in these negotiations. It is essential to have a high turnout in the 1995 elections. This would make it difficult for the Preparatory Committee to find excuses for pushing off candidates who won landslide victories in 1995. The only other additional work for the Hongkong advisers is to explain to the Chinese Government that people who hold differing views are not automatically anti-China. However, 4,000 years of history shows us how the Chinese leaders will respond to this advice. ALEX WOO Central
