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ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PRESS:
6.
The Governor:
On 20 May, the SCMP published a special two-page supplement to coincide with the first anniversary of Sir Edward Youde becoming Governor of HK. An editorial asked were Sir Edward's virtues obvious enough to the people of HK with 1997 now just over 14 years away and a big question mark hanging over our future? We caught a rare glimpse of what Sir Edward could do to sooth HK's nerves earlier in the month when the media clamoured from him a comment on the plunging HK dollar. The market reaction the following day clearly indicated that this was what people wanted and greatly appreciated a vote of confidence from their Governor on HK's future and its currency. Worried people needed to be reassured, and often. This did not mean breaking the confidentiality on the state of the Beijing/London talks, but people did need progress reports of some sort, if only to counteract the bewildering barrage. some called it a carefully orchestrated propaganda offensive of rumours about what was happening and the loose, ludicrous talk of what we were going to be allowed to do under a communist regime and what we were not.
Governor's TV interview: The SCMP on 21 May gave prominent coverage to the Governor's comment during his television interview that talks on HK's future were moving in the right direction and that it was possible he would join the Beijing talks this year. Prominence was also given to the speech in London by Lord MacLehose that talks on HK's future would still face a great problem even if an acceptable package was agreed how to convince the world of international finance and investment that the package would last.
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Beijing delegation: The return of the 12-member delegation, including three Legco members, from Beijing was front page news in the SCMP and HK Standard on 23 May. The Post headline was: "Beijing told of crisis of confidence"; the Standard's was: "Locals in charge system won't work". Both papers' leading paragraph quoted Mr. Allen Lee, the delegation leader, as saying Chinese leaders had been told that a proposal for self-government for HK would upset HK's prosperity and stability. They also told the Chinese that HK was experiencing a crisis of confidence. Mr. Lee said the group believed that until a solution was found through negotiations the present system should be maintained. Earlier, the SCMP reported that a vice-chairman of the NPC, Ms. Deng Ying-chao, had told women members of the visiting HK delegation that senior Chinese officials in Beijing had expressed concern over anxiety among HK residents on the 1997 issue. The Post was picking up a report in the left-wing New Evening Post.
Nationality Act: The Minister of State at the FCO told the foreign press in London that HK people could expect no change in their status under the British Nationality Act if the Conservatives were returned to power; nor would the election affect either the substance or timing of the talks on HK's future.
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