BASE "NE*
Press Reports
Reports of the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with special responsibility for Hong Kong, Mr. Richard Luce's visit to Hong Kong appeared first in several Chinese-language Press on August 3, which quoted the minister's statement in the House of Commons. Two English-language and several Chinese-language newspapers in the next two days carried a Daily Telegraph report which said Mr. Luce might go on to Peking from Hong Kong. Another source expected the minister to arrive here in September.
On August 20. the leading independent Wah Kiu Yat Po and Wan Kiu Man Po reported that Mr. Luce would arrive at the end of September and would meet the Governor. Sir Edward Youde, other senior Government officials, Umelco Members, Urban Councillors, District Board members and community leaders to listen to their views on Hong Kong's future. On August 25, the Oriental Daily News carried a similar report from its stringer in London. Mr. Luce was expected to arrive following the third round of the phase two talks in Peking on September 22 and 23.
The South China Morning Post carried a report the following day saying that Mr. Luce would hold a mini-summit with Sir Edward and the British Ambassador to China. Sir Percy Cradock, on the question of Hong Kong's future during his visit here. The story was picked up by the pro-Nationalist Kung Sheung Evening News the same day.
Quoting sources. many papers reported on September that Mr. Luce would visit Hong Kong between September 26 and 28 but the final schedules had yet to be worked out. The papers also said Sir Percy would come here to meet Mr. Luce after the Peking talks on September 22 and 23.
On September 2, most papers quoted the then Acting Governor, Sir Philip Haddon- Cave, as saying that Mr. Luce would pay a routine visit to Hong Kong at the end of September to meet many people representing a wide spectrum of opinion here on Hong Kong's future. The papers noted Sir Philip's remark that Mr. Luce's visit would have nothing to do with the talks on the territory's future. However, the leading left-wing Wen Wei Po's correspondent reported from London that the FCO said it circumstances permitted. Mr. Luce might go to Peking.
On September 4. the South China Morning Post said more than 50 engagements had been arranged for Mr. Luce during his three-day visit here. The problem for the Government was what to axe from his heavy programme without offending too many people. The story was picked up by the Onental Daily News the following day, when a few papers said Mr. Luce would meet District Board members and would attend a District Board meeting.
On September 6, a number of papers and the Hong Kong and the British Governments had confirmed that Mr. Luce would arrive on September 24 for a five-day visit as part of his Far Eastern trip. It was stressed that he had no plans to go on to China.
Some papers noted on September that Mr. Luce's visit would coincide with that of the Chief of Defence Staff, Field-Marshal Sir Edwin Bramall, a former Commander of British Forces here. They added that a Defence Ministry spokesman stressed that Sir Edwin's visit had nothing to do with Mr. Luce's trip.