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On 14 March, the HK Daily News expressed doubt in an editorial over the accuracy of the reports. Firstly, it was unlikely China would leak information about its decision because both sides agreed that the talks had to be confidential. Besides, Britain and China were about to resume talks, with the Governor participating. Even if the reports were true, the leak would not have come from the higher echelons. On the whole, the paper considered that the reports were fabricated by people with vicious motives to sabotage the Sino-British talks and to undermine the good relations between Beijing and London. Hong Kong was very sensitive to rumours. If this situation was exploited to indirectly deal a blow to China, investors in HK would flee. This would not only harm HK, but also China's modernisation programme. The paper called on the public to ignore such rumours and to maintain their faith in HK, Britain and China.
3.
LEGCO UNOFFICIALS TO VISIT BEIJING:
The HK Economic Journal in its front page lead on 12 March said the HK Branch of Xinhua had organised several more local group visits to Beijing, including a team headed by three unofficial Legco members.
A 40-member delegation comprising mainly HKU, CU and Polytechnic lecturers and their families would leave on April 1 for 10 days.
Another group would be made up of local journalists mainly educated and brought up in HK, but the programme has not been finalised.
In mid-May, a 10-member delegation headed by three unofficial Legco members would go to Beijing. The three, including a woman, had accepted Beijing's invitation to go there in their private capacity. Other members of the group came from the legal profession and from the commercial and industrial sectors. The three councillors had informed both the Governor and senior unofficial Exco member, Sir S.Y. Chung, about their forthcoming visit. The report said Chinese leaders would give weight to views expressed by this group.
4.
TALKS ON N-PLANT:
A Chinese delegation, headed by the First Vice-Minister of Water Conservancy and Electric Power, Mr. Li Peng, arrived in Hong Kong on 13 March for talks with officials of China Light and the British Industry Department on the proposed nuclear power plant in Guangdong. Several papers also reported that the HK Government would take part in some of the talks. Earlier, the Government had announced that it would soon appoint a banking group as consultants to advise on the financial implications of buying electricity from the proposed N-plant at Daya Bay. The arrival of the Chinese team was prominently reported by the left-wing press. Both Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao carried a feature emphasising that nuclear power meant cheaper electricity supply and was very safe. Ta Kung commented editorially that the project would have positive effects on HK's stability and prosperity. The safety measures against radioactive leaks were adequate and there was no cause for worry on this scene, the paper added.
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