布政司署
香港下亞畢道
*** Our Ref.:
TSX 1/78
* YOUR REF.:
RJT McLaren Esq
SECRET
116
HKCK ONO/1.
.
2 5 JUN 1979
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
12 June, 1979
KERAAR-
Interesting
Y
Taken
22
No
J25.1
for wom
Win 72506
звать
Hong Kong & General Department
F CO
Dear Robin,
SONG'S REMARKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG
I have another addition to the saga of Song Zhiguang's remarks on the future of Hong Kong. The latest, June, edition of the local journal, Zheng Ming, has an article on the subject called "Is Mr Song Zhiguang playing an old tune" (copy attached).
2.
The main argument of the article is that Song is indeed saying more or less what has been said before or was already well known, even though his specific reference to 1997 had caused some unease. The article then puts its own gloss on the significance of Song's remarks. This is to the effect that the import of Song's reference to 1997 was that nothing would occur before that date (he "has given the status quo a minimum life expectancy"). The article then argues that, with China's present policies and needs it would not be surprising if the status quo was maintained into the next century and also implying that the status quo would continue after that. It concludes by saying that large investments like the Mass Transit Railway would not have taken place if those concerned thought there were only 17 years to go. This is an interesting example of the snowball effect which can be achieved by large investments.
3.
Zheng Ming is sold in the communist bookshops and edited by people close to the local Party apparatus. It has, however, recently come under criticism from Peking for being too outspoken. One cannot therefore assume that it is publishing the straight Party line. Nevertheless, on a matter of this sort, I think it is a fair assumption that Zheng Ming reflects accurately the interpretation of Song's remarks which the local Party apparatus would like to see accepted. This fits in with
/contd........
SECRET