GPS 400
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG 120705Z JUL 83
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 990 OF 12 JULY 1983
and piess Summary
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
оп
26/7
MKK040/2
AND INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES WAREUNVIDNA; KALOWAY NO. 51 NEW YORK, BRUSSELS AND UKMIS GENEVA
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS COVERAGE ON 12 JULY.
13 JUL 1983
DESK
REGISTRY
INDEX
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C1128/1
142
1. THE GOVERNOR'S ARRIVAL IN PEKING WAS GIVEN WIDESPREAD AND PROMINENT COVERAGE IN TODAY'S PRESS, INCLUDING THE COMMUNIST PRESS. BOTH TV CHANNELS HAVE CARRIED REPORTS FROM THEIR
CORRESPONDENTS IN PEKING. THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS MET
ON THE CHINESE SIDE BY A JUNIOR OFFICIAL FROM THE MFA IS ALSO
WIDELY REPORTED.
2. MANY PAPERS CARRIED EDITORIAL COMMENT. MOST WERE AGREED THAT THERE WERE GROUNDS FOR OPTIMISM ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE SECOND PHASE, BUT MOST PAPERS ALSO CONSIDERED THAT THE TALKS WERE LIKELY TO BE PROTRACTED. THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL (INDEPENDENT SUGGESTED
THAT PREMIER ZHAO ZIYANG AND OTHER OFFICIALS BEING GROOMED BY
DENG XIAOPING TO TAKE OVER THE LEADERSHIP MIGHT WISH TO USE THE
HONG KONG ISSUE IN ORDER TO BUILD UP THEIR REPUTATION. DENG'S
INSISTENCE ON RETAINING THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF BOTH PARTY AND STATE
MILITARY COMMISSIONS INDICATED THAT EXTREME LEFTISM STILL EXISTED
IN CHINA. REFORMERS WOULD THEREFORE NOT DARE TO MAKE CONCESSIONS
ON THE HONG KONG ISSUE IN ORDER TO AVOID WEAKENING THEIR POSITION.
THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL SUGGESTED THAT THERE SHOULD BE EXPANDED
TRADE AND CULTURAL EXCHANGES IN ORDER TO BOOST HONG KONG PEOPLE'S
CONFIDENCE WHILE THE TALKS WERE GOING ON. IT ALSO SUGGESTED THAT
A ROYAL VISIT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN THIS RESPECT.
3. THE MING PAO (INDEPENDENT) SUGGESTED THAT THE SECOND PHASE
WOULD COVER HOW TO PRESERVE HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY
FOR, DURING AND AFTER 1997. THE TWO SIDES HAD PROBABLY AGREED TO
DEFER DISCUSSION OF SOVEREIGNTY IN ORDER TO CONCENTRATE ON THE
OTHER ISSUES AND FIND A BREAKTHROUGH. AGREEMENT SHOULD BE SOUGHT
DURING THE NEXT 14 YEARS ON TRANSPORT LINKS WITH SHENZHEN, HONG
KONG'S ROLE IN SOUTH CHINA SEA OIL EXPLORATION AND ON THE QUESTION
OF THE VALIDITY OF LAND TRANSACTIONS. AGREEMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL
MATTERS OF THIS KIND SHOULD BE ANNOUNCED AS SOON AS THEY WERE CON-
CLUDED.
4. THE FINANCIAL DAILY (INDEPENDENT) SAID THAT SUBSTANTIVE TALKS
HAD BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY A CHANGE IN BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE WHICH HAD
ENABLED CHINA TO AGREE TO SET ASIDE THE SOVEREIGNTY ISSUE IN ORDER
TO HAVE SUBSTANTIVE TALKS. THE EXPRESS (RIGHT WING) ON THE OTHER HAND SAID THAT THE BRITISH POSITION HAD NOT CHANGED SINCE LAST
SEPTEMBER. IT WAS PEKING WHICH HAD DECIDED TO ADOPT A MORE PRAGMATIC
APPROACH. THERE WERE STILL MANY DIFFERENCES TO BE RECONCILED.
RESTRICTED
5.