RESTRICTED
FM FCO 211005Z SEP 83
TO IMMEDIATE BRUNEI
RESTRICTED-
MKK04012
RECEIVED IN AEGISTRÝ
INUX
21 SEP 1933
TELEGRAM NUMBER 195 OF 21 SEPTEMBER
REGISTRY
Sehun Taker
CH2619
19359
1
NO DISTRIBUTION
FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU (FOR PS/MR LUCE) AT
REQUEST OF DEPARTMENT WAS RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG TELNO 1393
OF 21 SEPTEMBER.
Q22
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, PEKING,
HK GOVT REPS WASHINGTON, CG NEW YORK, BRUSSELS, UKMIS GENEVA
(225)
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS COVERAGE.
913).Q16
1. ALL LEFT-WING NEWSPAPERS REPRINTED IN FULL THE PEOPLE'S DAILY
ARTICLE ENTITLED 'CHINA RECOVERING SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG
IS ENTIRELY CONSISTENT WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW'' (PEKING TELNO 913).
THE ARTICLE WAS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED IN THE INDEPENDENT PRESS
WITH EDITORIAL COMMENT IN MING PAO AND THE EXPRESS.
2. MING PAO REGARDED THE PEOPLE'S DAILY ARTICLE AS A 1 'FULL
STATEMENT OF CHINA'S STANCE'' BEFORE THE FOURTH ROUND OF TALKS.
THE EDITORIAL SAW BRITAIN'S AIM IN THE TALKS TO TRY TO SECURE
CONTINUED BRITISH ADMINISTRATION AFTER 1997. BUT THAT WAS STILL
14 YEARS AWAY. THE MORE IMMEDIATE AND MORE DIFFICULT PROBLEM
WAS THE CONTINUED DEPRECIATION OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR. UNLESS
THE NOSEDIVE WAS HALTED, ARGUED MING PAO, AND THE LOCAL
ECONOMY COLLAPSED IN FOUR OR FIVE YEAR'S TIME, THERE WOULD BE
NO NEED TO DISCUSS SOVEREIGNTY AND ADMINISTRATION 14 YEARS FROM
NOW. THE PAPER URGED BRITAIN AND CHINA TO CO-OPERATE IN A
FRIENDLY MANNER TO STABILISE THE HONG KONG DOLLAR. IT SAID THE
KEY LAY WITH THE CONFIDENCE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE. CONFIDENCE
WOULD EXIST ONLY IN THE BELIEF THAT THE TWO SIDES WERE MAINTAINING
A FRIENDLY CO-OPERATION. THE EDITORIAL HOPED THAT A JOINT STATEMENT
WOULD ISSUE FROM THE PRESENT TALKS WHICH REAFFIRMED THE TWO SIDES'
COMMITMENT NOT ONLY TO LONG-TERM STABILITY AND PROSPERITY BUT
ALSO TO CO-OPERATION IN STABILISING THE HONG KONG DOLLAR.
3. THE EXPRESS COMMENTED THAT THE PEOPLE'S DAILY ARTICLE WAS
DESIGNED TO PUT PRESSURE ON BRITAIN ON THE EVE OF THE RESUMPTION
1
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