GPS 1000
RESTRICTED
LL.
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG 31035OZ AUG 83
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1379 OF 31 AUGUST 1983
Enlin
TO
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HKK 040/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
INFO ROUTINE PEKING, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WASHINGTON 5 1 AUG 1983
NEW YORK, BRUSSELS AND UKMIS GENEVA
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS COVERAGE
DESK OFFICER INDEX
REGISTRY
Action Taken
pe Blake
1. OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, THE PRESS GAVE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE
TO A SEMINAR ABOUT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE GOVERNMENT OF
HONG KONG, DURING WHICH THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION OF THE POS- SIBILITY OF ELECTIONS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE NEW
APPOINTMENTS TO EXCO AND LEGCO ALSO ATTRACTED WIDESPREAD INTEREST.
THE COMMUNH ST PRESS USED THESE EVENTS TO MAKE FURTHER PROPAGANDA
POINTS IN LINE WITH THE THEMES WHICH THEY HAVE ADOPTED SINCE THEY
RENEWED THE PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN FOR THE RECESS IN THE TALKS.
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15/9! KSJ OP 4/9
NOTEP
2. A SEMINAR ENTITLED QUOTE HONG KONG WEEK UNQUOTE WAS ORGANISED
JOINTLY BY THE STUDENT UNIONS FROM ALL FOUR INSTITUTES OF TER-
THARY EDUCATION. THE DEBATE CENTRED AROUND THE GOVERNMENT'S RECORD
AN IMPLEMENTING ITS PROMISES OF QUOTE OPEN GOVERNMENT UNQUOTE AND
THE EXTENT OF GENUINE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE GOVERNMENTAL
PROCESSES. MANY PARTICIPANTS SPOKE IN FAVOUR OF DIRECT ELECTIONS
TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, BUT DID NOT ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS
OF WHETHER SUCH A REFORM WOULD BE POLITICALLY POSSIBLE. THE
SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION'S CONTRIBUTION WAS WIDELY
REPORTED. HE SAID THAT OPEN GOVERNMENT WAS NOT JUST A MATTER OF
ELECTIONS. HONG KONG'S STYLE OF GOVERNMENT WAS CONDITIONED BY
TIME AND BY CIRCUMSTANCES. THERE WERE MANY CRITICISMS OF IN-
ADEQUATE CONSULTATION, MOSTLY REFERRING TO RISES IN ELECTRICITY
CHARGES AND GOVERNMENT TARRIES. INDEPENDENT PRESS COMMENT ON THE
DEBATE GENERALLY AGREED THAT IT WAS TOO EARLY TO EXPECT DIRECT
ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE CRITICISMS
AT THE SEMINAR WERE ECHOED IN THE INDEPENDENT PRESS, CREDIT WAS
GENERALY GIVEN TO THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS SO FAR TO HMPROVE CON-
SULTATION AND OPENNESS.
3. THE NEW APPOINTMENTS TO THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS
WERE WELCOMED BY THE INDEPENDENT PRESS, WHICH PAID PARTICULAR
ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE NEW NAMES WERE ALL CHINESE AND THAT
THE PROPORTION OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAD BEEN INCREASED.
4. THE COMMUNIST PRESS WERE CRITICAL OF THE NEW APPOINTMENTS.
THE NEW EVENING POST COMPLAINED THAT THE APPOINTMENTS WERE STILL
MADE BY THE GOVERNOR WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE FCO. THE TA KUNG PAO
SAID THAT THESE APPOINTMENTS, AND THE PROCESS BY WHICH THEY WERE
MADE, DEMONSTRATED THAT THE BRITISH STILL OPERATED A COLONIAL
REGIME IN HONG KONG. THE OTHER MAIN THEME OF THE COMMUNIST PRESS
OVER THE WEEKEND WAS FURTHER ATTACKS ON THE HONG KONG/BR 1-TI-SH
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/GOVERNMENT'S