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The South China Morning Post reported on the same day that Mr. Luce's visit was originally due to start on September 26, but had been extended for two days in view of the tight schedule. The story was picked up by a few Chinese-language papers.
On September 10, most papers reported prominently that the Governor said on his return from London that Mr. Luce would visit here after the fourth round of the second phase talks. The Governor also said Sir Percy would come at the same time as Mr. Luce and they would discuss questions relating to the talks.
On September 19, some papers reported that Mr. Luce had started his Far East trip and would arrive on September 24. The Oriental Daily News said an objective of Mr. Luce's visit was to restore Exco and Legco Members' confidence. According to Sing Tao Jih Pao, Legco Member Mr. Allen Lee said Mr. Luce would meet a group of young professionals who had been to Peking in May. Several papers reported that Mr. Luce would issue a statement on Hong Kong's future during his visit.
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A number of papers reported on September 24 that Mr. Luce would arrive that night.
Mr. Luce's arrival was reported prominently by most papers the following day. but the left-wing Press gave it only routine coverage. Most papers highlighted Mr. Luce's remark at the airport that residents should have confidence in themselves. While a few of them noted that Mr. Luce reiterated Britain's commitment to Hong Kong, some others reported that the weak Hong Kong dollar would be given top priority in the discussions among Mr. Luce. Sir Edward and Sir Percy. According to many papers, Mr. Luce had discussed the question of Hong Kong's future with Mr. Lee Kuang-yew in Singapore.
Mr. Luce's activities throughout his stay were accorded prominent coverage by the papers.
On September 26. many papers reported that the minister had on the previous day met senior Government officials, went on a cruise of Hong Kong and a working lunch with the Governor on board the Lady Maurine, and bag dinner in Government House with Sir Edward and Sir Percy.
Mr. Luce's meeting with Umelco Members on September 26 on the question of Hong Kong's future was extensively reported by most papers the following day, but the leading left-wing Wen Wei Po did not cover it. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr. Luce and a few Umelco Members described the discussions as "very useful.” Mr. Luce reiterated that the main objective of his visit here was to listen to residents' views on the territory's future. The papers reported that he had gone on a helicopter tour of the New Territories and had visited the Kai Tak North Refugee Camp that day and was impressed by the work being done here to deal with the refugee problem.
Mr. Luce's attendance at the Exco meeting the following day was reported by many papers, some of them prominently. Mr. Luce described the meeting as "useful and valuable," the papers said. The leading left-wing Ta Kung Pao did not carry the story. According to the Financial Daily, the meeting discussed also the Government's takeover of the troubled Hang Lung Bank.
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