RESTRICTED
4. THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL (INDEPENDENT) PUBLISHED THE FIRST OF TWO EDITORIALS SPECULATING ON THE LIKELY BRITISH REACTION TO A UNILATERAL ANNOUNCEMENT BY CHINA IN SEPTEMBER 1984 OF ITS INTENTIONS TOWARDS HONG KONG. THE EDITORIAL WAS RATHER FAR FETCHED, SUGGESTING THAT BRUTAMIN WOULD IGNORE ANY SUCH ANNOUNCEMENT, PROCEED WITH ALL VIABLE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS WHILST RETAINING SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO CONSTITUTE A RETIREMENT FUND FOR HONG KONG CIVIL SERVANTS. THE
EDITORIAL ALSO SUGGESTED THAT IN 1997 BRITAIN WOULD SEEK TO RETAIN
ITS AUTHORITY OVER THE CEDED TERRITORY WHILST HANDING BACK THE
LEASED TERRITORY.
5. THE TA KUNG PAO ENGLISH-LANGUAGE WEEKLY SUPPLEMENT CARRIED AN
ACCOUNT OF A DRAFT LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER WHICH HONG KONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HAD APPARENTLY PREPARED IN RESPONSE TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY TO THE LETTER SHE RECEIVED IN THE NAME OF ALL HONG KONG STUDENTS' UNNONS. THE DRAFT APPARENTLY CRITICISES THE ABSENCE OF AN ELECTORAL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG, URGES THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT BOTH TO PROMOTE DEMOCRATISATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TO LISTEN TO A WIDER RANGE OF VIEWS IN HONG KONG. THE STUDENTS ARE SOL ICHTHING THEIR MEMBERS' APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
HD/HKD
ED/FED
COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)
SIR PHILIP MOORE BUCKINGHAM PALACE PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND
ED/PLANNING STAFF
FD/PUSD
D/HD/PUSD(MR FLOWER)
RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/R LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
MR WRIGHT
-2- RESTRICTED
INDUSTRY
COPIES TO:
(VIA ADR)
NEWS DEPT
MR ROBERTS
-
ME BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR A PARSONS
11
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF
MR GOODALL
MR
BRENNAN
CABINET OFFICE
CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE
PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL