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Later in the week, the Labour Party in its election manifesto pledged to open talks with China with the aim of securing a peaceful and prosperous future for the people of HK if it came to power. Sing Tao Jih Pao ran a story filed by its London correspondent saying that the future of HK and the wishes of five million people here would be one of the subjects that both the Conservative and Labour Parties would give weight to in their election campaigns. This reflected the importance the two parties attached to the 1997 question. The paper, together with the Oriental Daily News, said RTHK would relay BBC election broadcasts via statellite on 9 June in view of the significance of the outcome to HK's future.
A Labour MP, Mr. Eric Varley, in a long-distance telephone interview with "This Week", said a change of British Government would not affect the Sino-British talks on HK's future. He said the Labour Party would deal with the 1997 question effectively and safeguard HK people's interests. The voice of the HK Government and local entreprenuers would continue to be heard in Whitehall.
A number of individuals also commented on the election. In an interview with
Wah Kiu Yat Po, the Senior Unofficial Member of the Executive Council, Sir Sze-yuen Chung, hoped the Conservative Government would be re-elected. He called on residents to be patient because there was much detail to be worked out in the Sino-British talks. Two Chinese University lecturers, Dr. Joseph Cheng and Dr. Chang Chak-yan, said the election would give impetus to the diplomatic talks. Mr. Jimmy McGregor of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce said the Conservative Party, if re-elected, could concentrate on settling the Hong Kong issue. Holding a different view, Dr. Norman Miners of HKU believed that the election would not have a major bearing on the lease talks. The next British Government would not come up with any major policy change on Hong Kong because the 1997 issue would be largely decided by China.
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NT GROUP RETURNS:
Wen Wei Po and Oriental Daily News reported that the NT Commercial and Industrial Trade Association delegation returned to HK on 11 May. The leader of the group, Mr. Tsang Kwong-tao, told both papers that the NPC vice-chairman, Mr. Liao Chengzhi, envisaged that the Sino-British talks would yield something fruitful in two years. Wen Wei also reported that the Governor, Sir Edward Youde, had invited Mr. Liao to visit HK. But, due to his tight schedule, it was unlikely that he would make the trip this year. The following day Sing Pao quoted a Government spokesman as saying that the Governor had not sent any written invitation to Mr. Liao.
Wen Wei said Mr. Laio had maintained that China's proposition to allow
HK people to govern HK was the best possible solution of the 1997 question. Details of this proposal would have either to be worked out in the Sino-British talks or drawn up by HK people themselves. Both papers also reported Mr. Liao as saying that the diplomatic talks should be conducted between Britain and China, and should not be a “three-legged” stool. Mr. Liao said it would be impossible for China to influence the HK Government's policy of tax and fare increases, but Beijing would watch the situation closely and, should the economy
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