TOP COPY
MKK040/2
244).
GR 300
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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
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COSEP 1983
FM HONG KONG 300845Z SEP 83
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1448 OF 30 SEPTEMBER
DESK OFFICE »
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Aution Takan
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, PEKING
INFO ROUTINE HK GOVT REPS WASHINGTON, CG NEW YORK, UKMIS GENEVA BRUSSELS
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS COVERAGE.
1. THIS WEEKS FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW LEADS OFF WITH AN ARTICLE BY DAVID BONAVA SUGGESTING THAT THE SPATE OF ANTI- BRITISH STATEMENTS WITH WHICH THE CHINESE HERALDED AND ACCOMPANIED THE FOURTH ROUND OF TALKS HAD DRIED UP. WHETHER THIS WAS BECAUSE THE CHINESE LEADERS HAD WOKEN UP TO THE DAMAGING CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR CAMPAIGN OR WHETHER THEY HAD SIMPLY RUN OUT OF THINGS TO SAY WAS NOT CLEAR.
2. TODAY'S LEFT WING PRESS CONTAINS LITTLE FUTURE RELATED MATERIAL. WEN WEH PO QUOTED A LOCAL ACADEMIC WHO WAS CRITICAL OF MR LUCE'S COMMENTS AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE NOTABLY HAS REFERENCE TO THE UNHELPFUL NATURE OF CHINA'S PUBLIC STATEMENTS AND CARRIED AN OPEN LETTER FROM MRS ELSHE ELLIOTT ARGUING THAT THE ONLY REALISTIC APPROACH WAS FOR BRITAIN TO RECOGNIZE THAT SOVEREIGNTY AND ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BELONG TO CHINA. MEANWHILE THE NEW EVENING POST ATTACKED THE PRIME MINISTER FOR HER ALLEGED ROLE IN PLAY ING THE ECONOMIC CARD.
3. THE INDEPENDENT PAPERS GAVE PROMINENT COVERAGE TO THE GOVERNOR'S PLANS TO VISHT LONDON NEXT WEEK WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. THERE WAS ALSO CONTINUING COMMENTARY ON MR LUCE'S PRESS CONFERENCE AND THE FINANCIAL DAILY AND ORIENTAL DAILY WERE ENCOURAGED BY THE EVIDENCE THAT BRITAIN WAS STANDING FIRM IN THE TALKS.
4. MEANWHILE MING PAO'S EDITORIAL COMPLAINED THAT IRRESPONSIBLE ELEMENTS IN HONG KONG HAD MISLED THE CHINESE LEADERS IN PEKING AND THIS HAD SERIOUSLY AFFECTED THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG
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