GR 400
RESTRICTED
DESK BY 2609DOZ
RESTRICTED
COPY
MKK040/2
RECEIVED REGISTRY
SOSEP 1983
DESK OFFICIA
INDEX
PA
(235)
REGLAY
Action Taken
I craola
FM HONG KONG 26064OZ SEP 83
TO IMMEDIATE FOO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1409 OF 26 SEPTEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING UKMIS NEW YORK (FOR S OF S'S PARTY)
OTTAWA (FOR PRIVATE SECRETARY TO THE PRIME MINISTER)
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS COVERAGE
1. THE MAJOR COMMUNIST NEWSPAPERS (TA KUNG PAO, WEN WEK PO AND
NEW EVENING POST) HAVE ALL REACTED SHARPLY TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S
COMMENTS TO U.S. JOURNALISTS ON 23 SEPTEMBER (COP RETRACT NUMBER
03923 SEPT). THEIR COMMENTS CAN BE TAKEN AS REFLECTIONS OF THE
OFFICIAL CHINESE VIEW.
↑
2. THE THREE PAPERS REFUTED THE ASSERTION THAT THERE WAS GREAT
FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY OVER THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG
AND DENIED THAT THERE WAS ANY BASIS FOR A COMPARISON BETWEEN
HONG KONG AND SINGPORE. IN HTS EDITORIAL YESTERDAY WEN WE PO
DESCRIBED THE PM'S STATEMENT AS ASTONISHING AND OUTRAGEOUS** AS
WELL AS DAMAGING TO THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONGS'S FIVE MILLION
PEOPLE'. THE EDITORIAL ACCUSED THE PM OF DISTORTING THE TRUTH
IN ORDER TO PUT THE BLAME ON CHINA BUT THAT SUCH ACTIONS
CONTRADICTED BRITAIN'S PLEDGE TO MAINTAIN PROSPERITY AND
STABILITY. TA KUNG PAO AND THE NEW EVENING POST ATTACKED THE
PM'S ATTEMPT TO PLAY THE HONG KONG INDEPENDENCE CARD' BY
URGING LOCAL RESIDENTS TO CUT THEIR PROPER TIES WITH THE CHINESE
MOTHERLAND AND SEEK INDEPENDENCE. THE PAPERS INSISTED THAT BRITAIN
WAS TRYING TO MAINTAIN ITS COLONIAL PRESENCE IN HONG KONG FOR
PURELY ECONOMIC GAIN. BRITISH ENTREPRENEURS ENJOYED
AS SPECIAL STATUS IN HONG KONG, THEY INVESTED HEAVILY IN THE
LOCAL STOCK MARKETS AND HONG KONG'S RESERVES WERE KEPT IN
BRITAIN.
3. THE MOST WITROLIC RESPONSE TO THE PH'S COMMENTS APPEARED
IN TODAY'S WEN WE PO IN AN ARTICLE SIGNED BY THE PAPER'S
DIRECTOR LI ZISONG (WHO IS ALSO A DELEGATE TO THE CPPCC). LI
ACCUSED THE PM OF WILFULLY TELLING LIES BY CLAIMING THAT
BRITAIN DERIVED NO ECONOMIC BENEFIT FROM HONG KONG. HONG KONG'S
RESERVES WERE KEPT HIN THE UK FOR BRITAIN'S BENEFIT, THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT HAD ACUTIONED OFF THE TERRITORY'S LAND (WHICH WAS
RESTRICTED
/CHINA'S)