MFA COMMISSIONER LU XINHUA'S MESSAGE TO THE CG

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HONG KONG 001394

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/CM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2031
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR HK CH
SUBJECT: MFA COMMISSIONER LU XINHUA'S MESSAGE TO THE CG

REF: A. HONG KONG 947


B. HONG KONG 851

Classified By: Consul General James B. Cunningham. Reasons: 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) Begin Summary: Newly arrived MFA Commissioner Lu
Xinhua invited Consul General Cunningham to a private lunch
on April 3 to cordially but clearly reiterate that consulates
in Hong Kong should not interfere in Hong Kong's affairs. He
raised also the activities in Hong Kong of U.S. NGO's with
Hong Kong political parties, signaling that their work would
be under scrutiny and perhaps that Lu will be taking a
tougher line than his predecessor. Cunningham responded that
the U.S. and China both have an interest in Hong Kong's
success, that most of the time we would agree, but that
sometimes we would not. He assured Lu that he would always
be available to discuss with Lu if he had questions about
U.S. activities or statements. Cunningham told Lu that U.S.
NGO work on political development was technical, not
partisan, and that the pro-Beijing DAB had availed itself of
such training. Lu indicated cautious interest in the new
Civic Party as a possible interlocutor. End Summary


2. (C) Commissioner Lu briefly reviewed the local political
situation. He expected that the Constitutional Affairs
Bureau would prepare some comments and proposals on political
reform in the first half of next year. The central
government remained firmly committed to realizing the
ultimate aim of universal suffrage, as stipulated in the
Basic Law, but it was necessary to move gradually due to the
lack of consensus in Hong Kong society, and the danger of
social instability if there was sudden change. Cunningham
said we understood Beijing's concern for stability, and the
need for Hong Kong itself to find more consensus on the way
forward in expanding democracy. We would be following the
discussion in Hong Kong and in the Strategic Development
Commission.

Get to know all the parties
--------------


3. (C) Commissioner Lu noted that the "Article 45 Concern
Group" had recently formed a political party, the "Civic
Party." The central government was aware that the Civic
Party sought understanding and dialogue with the authorities
in Beijing, but for now the central government wanted to
examine the Civic Party's words and actions carefully in
order to understand what role the party might play.
Mentioning that he recently met with leaders of the
Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Prosperity of Hong
Kong (DAB),Commissioner Lu applauded the CG's plans to meet,
in the near future, with the DAB leadership. Lu believed
that the CG would benefit from learning the DAB's views. The
CG responded that he looked forward to the scheduled meeting
with the DAB, and noted that in fact he frequently saw both
DAB Chairman Ma Lik and former Chair Tsang Yok-tsing, as he
did leaders of other parties such as the Liberal Party and
the Democratic Party.

A Warning
--------------


4. (C) Commissioner Lu observed that there were many American
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Hong Kong, and said
that under the Basic Law, Hong Kong political parties were
not allowed to have formal relations with or accept money
from foreign organizations or parties. (Note: According to
Article 23 of the Basic Law, the "Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region shall enact laws on its own...to
prohibit political organizations or bodies of the Region from
establishing ties with foreign political organizations or
bodies." Although the HKG has not, as yet, enacted such
legislation, the intent of the Basic Law drafters appears to
be that foreign ties should be prohibited. This article of
the Basic Law is evidently what Commissioner Lu had in mind.
End note.)


5. (C) The CG responded that, in fact, there were not that
many U.S. NGOs active in Hong Kong. Most of them focused
their work on the mainland, even though they were based in
Hong Kong. Generally their mainland activities were aimed at

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the promotion of civil society, and were done in cooperation
with the Chinese government. One, (the National Democratic
Institute),to his knowledge, did have programs in Hong Kong
directed at political party development, for example training
in fund-raising or how to make use of polling data. These
programs were purely technical, and were available to all
political parties in Hong Kong; in fact, the DAB had made
good use of several of these seminars. There was no effort
to promote a particular political point of view or agenda.
Cunningham