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Meanwhile, left-wing papers continued to publish interviews and letters to allay people's fears over the self-rule proposal. Wen Wei Po carried an interview with a Polytechnic lecturer, Mr. Li Ming-kun, who called on academics to support the self-rule option and continue to play a role in promoting social reforms. The paper also published a letter from a social worker who claimed China had never recognised the unequal treaties. This was indicated in maps of China which identified HK as a British occupied territory. Another letter called on people to judge China's performance now instead of on blunders it made during the upheavals.
In Ta Kung Pao, there was an interview with the chairman of China Shipyard, Mr. Huang Hua-sang, who said China must take concrete measures to boost public confidence here in order to uphold HK's prosperity and stability. He regretted that China relied more on Singapore for technology in its South Sea oil exploration and that it did not use HK as an oil logistics base. Two readers wrote to the paper. One said jittery feelings were not detected here when the first Governor in the post-war period, Sir Mark Young, had made proposals to reform HK's administration in 1946 with the aim of handing over power to the people. Another reader said local residents were worried about the loss of freedom rather than a fall in living standards when China regained sovereignty over HK. There was also an article written by Dr. C.W. Chuang calling on HK businessmen as well as overseas Chinese to invest in China. The New Evening Post interviewed the President of the left-wing Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Wong Kwancheng, who repeated his optimism about HK's prospects.
In an editorial the paper asked when would Sir Edward go to Beijing again? The deadlock in the diplomatic talks was caused by differences between China and Britain on the sovereignty question. Britain was allowing the issue to drag on. HK people would heartily welcome the Governor's visit as it would mean that Britain was determined to end the impasse by recognising China's sovereignty over HK. Sir Edward was a senior diplomat, a former ambassador to China, and an old friend of the Chinese. He would tell Britain the wishes of the Chinese people, including those in HK, to recover sovereignty and to maintain prosperity when he took part in the Beijing talks.
In the right-wing press, the Kung Sheung Daily News continued to ridicule the double standard used by China in handling the HK issue and its border dispute with Russia. In two leaders, the paper said if the delay in recovering sovereignty over HK was considered an anti-nationalist act, China's inaction to recover the 1.5 million sq. km. of territory from Russia which was 20 000 times the size of HK would be a sin 20 000 times more serious.
The independent Express maintained that neither the SAR option nor the self-rule proposition would set people's hearts at ease. The paper published a letter from a reader who expressed doubt whether China was willing to turn HK into a highly autonomous region. The HK Economic Journal reiterated its call for a transitional period to forestall drastic changes.
The paper stressed that it was still the wish of HK residents to maintain the existing system, disapproving of a local Government either directly or indirectly under Beijing's control. The pro-Taiwan Hong Kong Times said China chose to publicise 'patriotism' rather than 'communism' because they were aware that no one believed in communism any more.
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