GRS 500
RESTRICTED
DESKBY FCO 2208JOZ
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG 22070OZ NOV 83
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1786 OF 22 NOVEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
+KKOAO/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTR
? 3 NOV 1983
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
HSTKY
TOP COPY
ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON,
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, BRUSSELS
AND GENEVA.
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS COVERAGE.
BOTH THE INDEPENDENT AND COMMUNIST PRESS REPORTED THAT THE HEAD OF THE HONG KONG AND MACAO AFFAIRS OFFICE, J PENGFE,
JI
YESTERDAY MET 61 HONG KONG AND MACAU DELEGATES TO THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATHONS OF THE ALL CHINA FEDERATION OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. THE REPORTS QUOTED JK AS HAVING SAID THAT THE EXCELLENT STATE OF SINO-BRITISH RELATHONS PROVIDED THE BASIS FOR A WIDE SCOPE OF COOPERATHON BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES OVER THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. A COMMENTARY IN TAN KUNG PAC (COMMUN-ST) ADDED THAT JI HAD REITERATED CHINA'S POLICY OF REGAINING SOVEREIGNTY AND ADMINISTRATIVE RIGHT OVER HONG KONG AND THAT IF BRITAIN AGREED TO CONCEDE THESE TWO POINTS OF PRINCIPLE, ALL OTHER ISSUES ON THE TERRITORY'S FUTURE WERE
OPEN TO DISCUSSION.
2. THE EXPRESS (INDEPENDENT) CARRIED AS HTS BACK PAGE LEAD A STORY BASED ON 1 RELIABLE SOURCES AMONGST HIGH RANKING OFF ICH-ALS IN PEKING WHO SAID THAT JI PENGFE WAS LEADING A MASSIVE TEAM TO
INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS WHICH MIGHT ARISE IN HONG KONG FOLLOWING CHINA'S UNILATERAL STATEMENT NEXT SEPTEMBER. HOWEVER, SEPTEMBER'S ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD NOT BE THE DEFINITIVE STATEMENT. HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO MAKE KNOWN THEIR VIEWS BEFORE A FINAL DECISION WAS TAKEN.
3. A COLOMNIST IN THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL (INDEPENDENT) REFERRED TO ASSURANCES ATTRIBUTED TO JI PENGFE THAT CHINA WOULD NOT BE SENDING CADRES TO RUN HONG KONG BEFORE OR AFTER 1997. THE COLUMNIST POINTED OUT THAT CHINA ALREADY HAD MANY CADRES WORKING IN THE LOCAL OFFICES OF THE BANK OF CHINA, NCNA, CHINA RESOURCES COMPANY, EVERBRIGHT AND THE LEADING COMMUNIST NEWSPAPERS. THE COLUMNIST ARGUED THAT SUCH CADRES WOULD SURFACE IN 1997 TO TAKE UP THE MORE IMPORTANT POSTS OF GOVERNMENT. THEY WOULD BE THE SO-CALLED HONG KONG PEOPLE TO GOVERN HONG KONG.
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4. THE FINANCIAL DAILY (INDEPENDENT) ALSO QUESTIONED THE CREDILITY OF JB PENGFE'S ASSURANCES THAT STABILITY AND PROSPERITY WOULD BE MAINTAINED UNDER THE CHINESE PLAN. THE PAPER ARGUED THAT ONCE SOVEREIGNTY HAD REVERTED TO CHINA, HONG KONG WOULD BE PART OF CHINA AND BE BOUND TO ACT ACCORDING TO PEKING'S WISHES.
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