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ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PRESS:
Governor's television interview: Asiaweek of June 3 had an item about the Governor's television interview which said the Mandarin-speaking Sir Edward had agreed to be interviewed in English and that was a disappointment to many in the 98 pc Chinese community. The article described HE's comments on HK's future as "fairly predictable." But an editorial said Sir Edward's reticence about discussing the nature and course of negotiations with Beijing was entirely proper.
China's softening diplomatic stance: The latest issue of the Far Eastern Economic Review contained an article by Mary Lee which said China was apparently adopting a more diplomatic stance in the Sino-British talks, an impression given to a 12-member delegation from HK which recently returned after six days in China, and of which Miss Lee was a member. They had been told by a vice-chairman of the NPC and former Guangdong province governor, Mr. Xi Zhongxun, that China would work towards resolving the HK problem through peaceful negotiations with the British, and that a satisfactory solution would bring honour to both countries; China would handle the issue of HK's future with great care and would not say or do anything to upset the prosperity and stability of HK. The blandness of Mr. Xi's remarks were contrasted with those of Mr. Liao Chengzhi to other HK delegations. Miss Lee wrote that the group did not return with any details of what China proposed to do after sovereignty was recovered; this suggested, analysts said, that, while there was nothing new in what Mr. Xi said, it did take Beijing's position back to where it was before Mrs. Thatcher's visit.
Between these columns: One of the items in this column on May 28 said Chinese leaders were unlikely to make any public statement about the HK issue at the forthcoming NPC, conscious of the delicate position of HK and Britain at the moment. There had been some fears voiced in HK that Chinese leaders might make a statement on HK when the NPC opened on June 6. However, well-informed observers ruled out this possibility and said that Beijing was fully conscious of both Mrs. Thatcher's position and HK's.
Survey of HK's future: A $1.4 million study and analysis by SRI International
of the US said China's present leaders appeared to have the pragmatism and patience that augured well for HK's future. The report detailed HK's economy and its prospects for the remainder of the century. It said there were adequate stimuli to assure that HK's continued diversification and growth would not be jeopardised. While the report did not see any long-term risk, it did recognise some short-term problems, including the impact of a world economy only beginning to recover from recession; the 1997 question; and speculative property development. The Standard took the line that the report had endorsed Beijing's proposal that HK would be "self-administered" and retain its unique economic system when China regained sovereignty.
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