RESTRICTED
38
GR 250
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG 180748Z JAN 83
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 81 OF 18 JANUARY
HKK 0401
RECEIVI
1 8 JAN 1983
PA
Af
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON FICKE
37
MY TELNO 78: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS COVERAGE.'
THERE WAS A FURTHER ROUND OF REPORTS ON THE NEW TERRITORIES REPRESENTATIVE DELEGATION'S VISIT IN THE HONG KONG PRESS ON 18 JANUARY. THE ONLY NEW ELEMENT IS A REPORT IN THE MING PAC (INDEPENDENT) QUOTING LIAO CHENGZHI AS HAVING TOLD THE DELEGATION THAT, FOLLOWING THE RECOVERY OF SOVEREIGNTY, THE MOST SENIOR POSITIONS IN HONG KONG WOULD BE FILLED BY (LOCAL) CHINESE PEOPLE, BUT THAT FOREIGNERS COULD BE OFFERED POSTS AS ADVISERS AND
SECRETARIES.
2. THE COMMUNIST PRESS HAVE CONTINUED TO PUBLISH COMMENTARIES AND EDITORIALS IN A SIMILAR VEIN TO THOSE REPORTED IN MY TEL UNDER REF AND PREVIOUS TELEGRAMS IN THIS SERIES. THE WEN WEI PO CARRIED AN ARTICLE BY ITS PUBLISHER, LI ZISONG, CRITICISING THOSE WHO HAD SUGGESTED A 30-YEAR TRANSITION PERIOD. SUCH PEOPLE WERE TOO DEPENDENT ON THE BRITISH. HE QUOTED SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA AS EXAMPLES OF COUNTRIES WHICH HAD CONTINUED TO PROSPER AFTER THE ENDING OF BRITISH RULE. CHINA, RESPECTING HISTORY AND REALITY, WOULD HAVE WAITED 48 YEARS FROM THE FOUNDATION OF NEW CHINA UNTIL 1997 TO RECOVER ITS SOVEREIGNTY. IT COULD NOT WAIT FOR A FURTHER 30 YEARS BEFORE DOING SO.
3. THE NEW EVENING POST ON 17 JANUARY CARRIED AN EDITORIAL CRITICISING BRITAIN FOR DELAY IN RETURNING THE FOOTBALL'' TO WHICH LIAO CHENGZHI HAD REFERRED. THE EDITORIAL PICKED UP RECENT ARTICLES IN THE BRITISH PRESS SUGGESTING THAT THE FCO WAS DEMORALISED AND THAT THE PRIME MINISTER MADE ALL THE IMPORTANT DECISIONS ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AND SUGGESTED THAT THE BRITISH TEAM WAS IN DISARRAY.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
HD HKD
ED/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD
PS
PS/LORD BELSTEAD
PS/PUS
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
SIR J BULLARD
PS/ MR HURD
COPIES TO
SIR I SINCLAIR
MR ROBERTS
LEGAL ADVISER
NEWS D
MR COLES
MR MARTIN
H.K.G.O.
RESTRICTED
NO 10 DOWNING STREET
ASSESSMENTS STAFF
CABINET OFFICE