GRS 1150
RESTRICTED
DESBKY 0609452 OCT 83
FROM PEKING 06085OZ OCT 83
RESTRICTED
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 991 OF 6/10/83
REPEATED FOR INFO TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
DOL
MKK040/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY -7 OCT 1983
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
Sea
FUTURE OF HONG KONG:
REMARKS
PEOPLE'S DAILY COMMENTATOR ON MR LUCE'S
250
CM24/10/255
256
t t
1. PEOPLE'S DAILY OF 6 OCTOBER CARRIES AN ARTICLE ON PAGE 2 BY
A ''COMMENTATOR OF THE PAPER ENTITLED "COME OFF IT MR LUCE
IT IS LENGTHY AND SEVERE IN TONE. COMMENT IS IN MIFT. A SUMMARY OF THE PIECE FOLLOWS.
2. THE ARTICLE STATES THAT ON 28 SEPTEMBER MR LUCE ATACKED
·
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOR OPENLY CRITICISING THE BRITISH POSITION
IN THE TALKS. HE THREATENED TURBULENCE IF THE TALKS DID NOT REACH
A SATISFACTORY OUTCOME. ALL CONCERNED WITH HONG KONG'S FUTURE WOULD CONSIDER THAT SUCH EXTRAORDINARY REMARKS WOULD BE OF NO HELP IN FINDING A RATIONAL SOLUTION.
3. IT WAS PUTTING THE BLAME ON OTHERS AND MISLEADING THE PUBLIC TO ACCUSE THE CHINESE OF BREACHING CONFIDENTIALITY. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD NEVER PUBLICLY SPOKEN OF THE PROGRESS OF THE TALKS OR THEIR AGENDA. EVERYONE KNEW CHINA'S BASIC POSITION CONCERNING THE RESUMPTION OF SOVEREIGNTY AND ADMIN- ISTRATION IN HONG KONG. THERE WAS NO SECRET ABOUT IT. THE
CHINESE HAD THE RIGHT TO MAKE IT KNOWN TO THEIR PEOPLE., INCLUD-
ING THOSE IN HONG KONG. THE BRITISH SIDE, MR LUCE HIMSELF INCLUDED, HAD TIME AND AGAIN ANNOUNCED THEIR ''AIM", IE THE IR POSITION,
IN THE TALKS. WHAT KIND OF LOGIC WAS IT THAT ALLOWED THE
BRITISH TO STATE THEIR POSITION WHILE THE CHINPSE COULD NOT?
RESTRICTED
14.