THE controversy surrounding the Western Harbour Crossing Bill was highlighted last week when the pro-China Wen Wei Po called for the legislation to be passed without amendment and criticised some legislators' opposition as a crude attempt at vote grabbing.
This was seen by some as a clear signal of China's support for the franchise. However, this kind of interpretation does more harm than good.
Wen Wei Po's argument treats the bill as Hongkong's internal affair. This ''local affairs'' viewpoint is correct and should be encouraged.
It was agreed at the Joint Liaison Group (JLG) that the franchise, which extends beyond 1997, could be granted. But whether it actually will depends entirely on the administration's judgment and on whether law makers pass the bill.
Legco's consideration must not rest on the fact that an agreement has been reached at the JLG. It must be based solely on the answer to the question of whether the franchise proposals on offer serve the best interests of Hongkong.
What does the franchise actually entail? Here is a bill that proposes to charge a motorist $30 each time he passes through the crossing when it opens in 1997. Thereafter, the toll would be increased automatically every four years by a formula which meansthat by 2021, he will have to pay $105.