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5. AN AFP REFORT, QUOTING AN UNNAMED SENHOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFNCHAL AS SAYING THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO OPINION POLL ABOUT THE FUTURE IN HONG KONG AND REFUTING ACCUSATIONS THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ONLY LISTENED TO THE VIEWS OF THE HANFLUENTIAL AND THE RUCH, WAS WIDELY REPORTED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE LANGUAGE PRESS. THE (PRO-CHHNA) THN THIN DAHLY NEWS, HIN AN EDITORIAL, SAD THAT THESE REMARKS WERE EVIDENCE OF A GUILTY CONSCIENCE ON THE PART OF THE BRITISH AUTHORMITHES SINCE THEY HIMPLIED THAT BRITAIN COULD MANIPULATE PUBLIC OPINION SO THAT ANY OPHION POLL WOULD PRODUCE A VICTORY FOR BRITAIN. 6. THE ORIENTAL DAHLY (HINDEPENDENT) CARRIED AS HIT FRONT-PAGE
LEAD ON 24 OCTOBER A REPORT QUOTHING UNSPECIFIED SOURCES AS REVEALING THAT MR RICHARD EVANS WOULD SUCCEED SHR P. CRADOCK AS AMBASSADOR TO CHINA IN DECEMBER. THE ORMENTAL DAHLY HAS ALSO REPORTED, AGAIN QUOTING UNSPECIFIED SOURCES, THAT A WORKING PARTY OR PARTHES WOULD SOON BE SET UP IN THE NEGOTIATIONS AND THAT HONG KONG'S ATTORNEY GENERAL WOULD BE INVOLVED. ON THE SAME THEME, THE WAH KHU YAT PO (HNDEPENDENT) ON AN EDITORIAL ON 24 OCTOBER CALLED ON THE CHINESE AND BRI:THSH GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE PRACTICAL STEPS TO HMPROVE CONFIDENCE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE SETTING UP OF WORKING GROUPS WOULD BE AN HINDICATION THAT SOLND PROGRESS WAS BEING MADE.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG HONG
COPIES TO:
ED/FED
3/FLAMMING STAFF
ED/PUSD
D/E/FUSD (MR FLOWER)
RESEARCE
WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR LUCE
PS/FUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFF ARD
MR DONALD
WEIGHT
(MR BURROWS)
ME ROBERTS
MR. MARDIN
THE
COLES
SIR A PARSONS
NEWS DEP
ASSESSMENTS STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
No 10 DOWNING SE
FIR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE
MOURE BUCKINGHAM
SIR FERT
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF
PS/ECME SECRETARI
FS/ S OF S FOR DEFENCE
PALACE
COMPEL
FS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
FS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND
INDUSTRY
PS/LEDCENEY GENERAL
2
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