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2
Nevertheless, there is one oddity about the story. Although the vast majority of the listening journalists were apparently from the left-wing press, none of the communist or pro-communist papers published the remarks about Hong Kong's future which I have quoted above. Instead, they quoted less sensitive aspects of the press briefing, such as Mr Chang's remarks about China ensuring continuing supplies to Hong Kong and not putting up prices. I see no reason to doubt that Mr Chang said something like what he is quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post. It fits in, after all, with the other assurances which have been coming from Chinese officials, directly or indirectly. It seems, however, that this was not a message which the communist press decided to emphasise, possibly because Mr Chang, as a senior member of a trading organisation, is not in their eyes the right sort of person to be commenting officially on such a political matter.
CC
JAB Stewart Esq OBE (HKGD FCO)
(D C Wilson)
HC Hainworth Esq CMG
(Research Dept FCO)
KC Walker Esq
(Assessments Staff, Cabinet Office)
PJ L Popplewell Esq
(PEKING)
C W Squire Esq
(WASHINGTON)
(Dictated by Dr Wilson and signed in his absence)
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