CONFIDENTIAL
Media Summary on Hong Kong's Future
Period: February 21 - 28, 1983
INTRODUCTION:
Media attention focused in the main on announcements in Hong Kong.
It was revealed simultaneously in HK and Beijing that the Governor and the British Ambassador to China, Sir Percy Cradock, would be in London early in March for consultations which would include the subject of the future of HK. The announcement created considerable interest in the Chinese press.
The Bank of China group announced that it would make available to small industries loans at favourable terms, following the announcement three weeks earlier of a similar scheme by the HK and Shanghai Bank. Later, the Bank had to deny a remark by Mr. Hwang Jen of the HK Factory Owners' Association who said the repayment period would be from 30 - 50 years.
The Financial Secretary's announcement that the Government would not proceed with a replacement airport at Chek Lap Kok was also very widely covered, with most papers expressing approval.
During the week, the left-wing papers shifted their emphasis to reporting comments by visitors to China on the better living conditions in that country. It was the consensus of the writers that people in China now enjoyed greater freedom. This line temporarily halted while the communist newspapers concentrated on the Budget. They criticised the various tax increases in the Budget as drastic and not conducive to maintaining HK's prosperity. It was confirmed by Beijing during the week that the NPC standing committee Chairman, Marshal Ye Jianying, would resign.
ITEMS:
1.
GOVERNOR TO VISIT LONDON:
The announcement made simultaneously by GIS in HK and the British Embassy in Beijing on 26 February that the Governor, and the British Ambassador would be returning to London for consultations in the week commencing 7 March received prominent coverage on TV and radio, as well as in independent and right-wing papers. However, the item was given routine coverage in the two principal left-wing papers.
Sir Edward's London trip, the fourth since he became Governor, rekindled Chinese Press interest, after the Budget, in HK's prospects; while most papers reported that Sir Edward and Sir Percy would meet the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary for discussions on HK's future, the Financial Daily in its front page lead quoted Professor Peter Harris of HKU saying that the two might also hold talks with the outgoing Chinese Ambassador in London, Mr. Ke Hua. Another political analyst said it was possible that the next round of Sino-British talks would be held in London as this would keep the negotiations out of the public gaze and avoid unnecessary speculation.
CONFIDENTIAL