RESTRICTED
DESK BY 2508JOZ
FM HONG KONG 25074OZ OCT 83
TO IMMEDIATE FOOC 1595
Sic
TELEGRAM NUMBER H
RESTRICTED
OF 25 OCTOBER 1983
679
TOP COPI
MK K040 12
RECEIVED IN ALLISTRY
NEO PRIORITY PEKING AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, NEW
BRUSSELS AND GENEVA
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS COVERAGE.
- 1983
JESK LFICEM
REGISTRY
INDEX
Aduion Take'
AKD
31
THE PRESS REMAIN FAIRLY QUIET WITH LITTLE NEW MATERIAL OR COMMENT.
2. ALL SECTIONS OF THE PRESS CARRIED A REUTERS REPORTS OF REMARKS MADE BY FOREIGN MINISTER WU XUEGIAN IN MUSCAT. WU SAID THAT PEKING WOULD ADOPT A SPECHAL ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY ON HONG KONG AFTER 1997. HE STRESSED THAT HONG KONG WOULD REMAIN AS IT WAS NOW AND THAT QUOTE BRITISH PROPERTY UNQUOTE WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE RE- STORATION OF CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY. WHILST THE REPORT WAS GIVEN PROMINENT COVERAGE THERE WAS NO FURTHER COMMENT IN THE MAJOR COM-
MUNIST NEWSPAPERS.
3. A COLUMNIST #N THE NEW EVENING POST (COMMUNIST) CRITICISED QUOTE SOME PEOPLE UNQUOTE WHO SUPPORTED THE BRITISH POSITION AND USED THEIR FALSE CLAIM TO REPRESENT PUBLIC OPINION AS AN EXCUSE TO TRAVEL TO AND FROM LONDON. BUT THEY WERE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT AS THE REST OF HONG KONG'S POPULATION. AFTER THEY HAD TURNED HONG KONG'S ECONOMY INTO A MESS, THEY WOULD LEAVE FOR GOOD. THEY HAD BEEN SHOUTHING QUOTE DO NOT ROCK THE BOAT UNQUOTE. NOW IT WAS TIME TO SHOUT BACK AT THEM.
4.ONDON-BASED CORRESPONDENTS IN THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS REPORTED THAT MR. ROBERT ADLEY MP'S ADJOURNMENT DEBATE WOULD BE HELD ON 31 OCTOBER. THE SCMP DESCRIBED MR. ADLEY AS A QUOTE BACKBENCH LIGHTWEIGHT UNQUOTE WHO NEVERTHELESS CARRIED SOME INFLUENCE AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ANGLO-CHINESE PARLIAMENTARY
GROUP.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
COPIES TO:
LIMITED
MR ROBERTS
HD/HKD
MR BURROWS
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
D/HD/PUSD(MR FLOWER)
RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
MR WRIGHT
MR MARTIN
MR COLES
NEWS DEPT
LEGAL ADVISER ASSESSMENTS STAFF
CABINET OFFICE NO 10 DOWNING ST
SIR A PARSONS
#1
MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE
SIR PHILIP MOORE BUCKINGHAM PALACE PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
RESTRICTED