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A Ta Kung Pao commentator also condemned these activities which he claimed were engineered by the KMT, and would only expose their ugliness. It was absurd that the KMT could assert that they would not recognise and brand illegal China's sovereignty claim to HK.
In a leader, the New Evening Post said increased "babbling" by the KMT in HK showed that Taiwan began to worry whether it would maintain its status quo in HK at a time when the confidence of local people in HK, politically and economically, had been restored. To condone these activities went against the agreement between Mrs. Thatcher and the Chinese.
HK Commercial Daily said only people who did not care about HK's prosperity and stability would try to put pressure on Beijing. They would act against the interests of local residents and industrialists.
Commenting on these activities by pro-Taiwan organisations, Wah Kiu Man Po maintained that it was the wish of five million people here to maintain the status quo and prosperity.
Earlier, the HK Economic Journal said the assertion by Taiwan that it would not recognise any agreement on HK's future concluded between Britain and China was meaningless, because Taipei had no say whatsoever on the issue. Besides, neither Beijing nor London would consult Taiwan over the issue. Now it had made its point in order to make itself accountable to the rightists, it would only jeopardise local residents' wishes to maintain the status quo, should it take one step further by organising mass rallies.
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PAPER ORGANISES SEMINAR:
Ta Kung Pao held a seminar on HK's prospects which was attended by the President of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Wang Kwancheng; the CMA ch: rman, Mr. Ngai Shiu-kit; the FHKI President, Mr. Jack Tang; the President of HK Real Estate Developers Association, Mr. Henry Fok; Queen's Counsel Mr. Martin Lee; a CU and a Polytechnic lecturer. The paper said participants generally agreed that HK's success was due to support from China, its free economy, and sound legal system. If these factors were preserved, China's political system remained stable and its modernisation programme thrust ahead, HK's prosperity could continue. There was a need to revitalise ailing manufacturing industry which should remain the mainstay of HK's economic development. They also called for closer trade co-operation between HK and China, notably in the electronics and computer industries. The loan schemes to small industry from both the HK and Beijing-funded banks were a big boost to the economy. The Government should take measures to reduce the operating costs of industry and to maintain the competitiveness of our products. These assertions were published without identifying the spokesmen individually. It was claimed that the seminar was the first of a series of lectures and seminars to be organised by the paper.
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