Sing Tao Jih Pac (7.9.74) felt that what was said was only "old wine in new bottles" and suspected that by attacking Hong Kong's administration, the Labour MP was just trying to gain popularity for his own political purposes.
"Observations of Mr. Sillars on Hong Kong are only superficial and fail to penetrate into the crux of the problems," its sister paper Sing Tao Wan Pao (6.9.74). remarked.
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"As for its criticism that the Hong Kong Government ignores the interests of the workers, this is only the prejudice of most British Labour MPs and cannot really reflect the true facts," it added.
The paper also disagreed with Mr. Sillars who regarded the retainment of hanging as an example of the lack of "basic human rights" for the people in Hong Kong.
"The citizens of Hong Kong are not only for the retainment of hanging, but also demand the re-instatement of death penalty," it said.
This view was also shared by Kung Sheung Evening News, Kung Sheung Daily News and Hong Kong Times.
"It is the British Government which is denying the citizens of Hong Kong their basic human rights by reprieving convicted murderers sentenced to death in Hong Kong," contended Kung Sheung Evening News,
"Whether or not the death penalty should be abolished is not a matter of improvement or of human right. It should be decided in accordance with the situation of a society, said Kung Sheung Daily News.
"The system in Hong Kong and its future are to be decided by the majority of its citizens, and we do not need British MPs to make any suggestions based on their superficial knowledge of Hong Kong," the paper concluded.
"Criticising Hong Kong is not a task which people can undertake without deep understanding of the Colony," its sister paper Kung Sheung Evening News said in unison.
On the other hand, four papers endorsed the views of the book and suggested that Hong Kong should review her system and policies accordingly.
"The revolation made by the book should be of great value to us, 11 said Fai Po (7.9.74) which regarded the publication as "a good answer" to the lack of a sense of belonging among the people of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Daily News (9.9.74) urged the policy-makers to amend the political system in Hong Kong.
Many of the points in the book deserve a closer look. If Hong Kong does not face up to reality and improve her shortcomings, the future is indeed not very optimistic," Criental Daily (7.9.74). remarked. "Although Hong Kong is a democratic society, the views of its people are often disregarded," the paper criticised.
The communist Tin Fung Yat Po. (8.9.74) said satirically that it is unnecessary to refute the arguments made by the book as "disparity between the rich and the poor", "lack of democracy," and the allegation that "the Folice and the law are tocls to protect the rich" are, after all, small little things.