!
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4. THE MING PAO TODAY CARRIES AN EDITORIAL WHICH BY IMPLICATION
CRITICISES ITS SISTER EVENING PAPER FOR PRINTING A STORY BASED ONLY
ON THE IDEAS OF THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES (PARA 1 OF MY TUR). THE
EDITORIAL REFERS TO THE HARMFUL EFFECT OF RUMOURS AND MISLEADING
REMARKS SPREAD WITH AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE. REFERRING TO THE FACT
THAT WHILE PEKING OFFICIALS HAD PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS FOR HONG
KONG'S FUTURE BRITAIN HAD NOT REAVELED IT'S INTENTIONS, THE PAPER
SAID THAT THOSE WHO WROTE ARTICLES TO SPREAD INCORRECT IDEAS BASED
ON THE THINKING OF ONLY ONE PARTY (IN THE TALKS), AND CLAIMED
AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES FOR THEM WERE SIMPLY UNDERMINING HONG
KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.
5. NO OTHER PAPERS HAVE SO FAR REPRODUCED THE WIDE ANGLE STORY OR
COMMENTED ON IT BUT THE GOVERNMENT STATEMENT WAS GIVEN MODERATE
COVERAGE BY TEN INDEPENDENT AND PRO-KMT NEWSPAPERS.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
ED/EKGD
HD/FED
ED/PLANNING STAFF ED/PUSD PS
PS/MR HURD
PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/FUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
COPIES TO
STR I SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS
MR ROBERTS NEWS D
MR MARTIN
MR FLOWER
ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE
PUSD
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST.
SiR A PARSONS
2
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