CONFIDENTIAL
Media Summary on Hong Kong's Future
Period: January 18 - 24, 1983
INTRODUCTION:
The most significant event of the week was the departure of the Governor, Sir Edward Youde, for talks in London, with some papers expressing the hope that he would reflect HK people's views to British leaders. One local paper said he would be taking part in the second round of the Sino-British diplomatic talks in March.
For the second time China has denied a comment allegedly made by the vice-chairman of the National People's Congress, Mr. Liao Chengzhi, this time to the Heung Yee Kuk-led delegation which returned after eight days in China. The denial, made by the Information Department of the Foreign Ministry, concerned aspects of Mr. Liao's reported comment that China had made proposals to Britain on HK's future and was awaiting a reply.
The Oriental Daily News published on 21 January the results of an opinion poll among DB members on the acceptability of self-rule for HK. One of the main findings was that under four per cent of those polled had faith in Article 31 of the new Constitution as a safeguard of HK's future status.
The right-wing Kung Sheung Daily News is mounting a campaign opposing the concept of self-rule in HK by publishing letters from its readers on a daily basis,
The left-wing press continued to criticise the proposal for a 30-year transitional period and it is of note that, for the first time, there has been criticism of Lord Belstead's "three-legged table" metaphor. The Ta Kung Pao Weekly Supplement described the proposal for a transitional period after 1997 as an affront to the intelligence and capability of local people.
ITEMS:
1.
GOVERNOR GOES TO LONDON:
The departure of the Governor, Sir Edward Youde, for London on 21 January and his address to the HK General Chamber of Commerce the same day were prominently reported. It was the front page lead in six papers, including the left-wing Ching Po and HK Commercial Daily. Sir Edward was reported saying he expected to see Mrs. Thatcher as well as Department of Trade officials and MPs and businessmen interested in HK. The SCMP reported that the Sino-British talks remained suspended with both sides awaiting the arrival of new team members; Sir Edward was expected to join the team and travel to Beijing from time to time Wah Kiu Yat Po reported that he would submit to the British Government for reference copies of the five memoranda which the NT delegation had given earlier to Mr. Liao Chengzhi. Some papers also reported that the Governor was expected to meet Mr. Ke Hua, the Chinese Ambassador in London.
CONFIDENTIAL