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3. THE ARTICLE CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT THE BEST WAY TO STOP LOOKING
TO THE PAST AND CONCENTRATE ON THE FUTURE WOULD BE FOR BRITIAN
TO ABROGATE THE TREATIES AND RECOGNISE CHINA'S SOVEREIGNTY,
''DISCUSSION OF THE HONG KONG PROBLEM CANNOT IGNORE HISTORY. AS VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE NPC PENG ZHEN SAID 'RESPECT HISTORY, RESPECT
PRESENT REALITIES AND PIN YOUR HOPES ON THE FUTURE. IF THESE
THREE PHRASES CONSTITUTE THE 13-LEGGED STOOL' THE PROBLEM WILL BE
EASILY SOLVED''
4. COMMENT. THOUGH THE EMPHASIS IS ON THE NEED TO ABROGATE THE
TREATIES, THE TONE OF THE NEW EVENING POST EDITORIAL IS MILDER
THAN THAT OF OTHER RECENT HISTORICAL COMMENTARIES IN THE COMMUNIST
PRESS. IT IS NOT CLEAR WHEN, OR IN WHAT CONTEXT PENG ZHEN MADE
THE REMARKS ATTRIBUTED TO HIM.
YOUDE
[THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED]
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
TEMLINED
HD! HKG D
COPIES TO
STR I SINCLAIR
ED/TED
MR ROBERTS
ED/PLANNING STAFF MR GIFFARD
HD/PUSD
MR DONALD
PS
MR COLES
MR MARLIN
NO 10 DOWNING STREET
PS/LORD BELSTEAD
LEGAL ADVISER
NEWS D
ASSESSMENTS STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
PS/MR HURD
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
2
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