4. A REGULAR COLUMNIST IN THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL
(INDEPENDENT) SAID THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT AT ISSUE OVER 1997 WAS NOT DEMOCRACY NOR NATIONALISM NOR THE POWERS OF THE
GOVERNOR, BUT WHETHER HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT AND FREEDOM TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN LIFESTYLE AND DECIDE THEIR OWN
POLITICAL FUTURE. THE COLUMNIST SAID THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO MORE TO CLARIFY THE LARGE NUMBER OF MISLEADING COMMENTS
ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FUTURE. THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
SERVICES SHOCBD ACT AS A COUNTER-UNITED FRONT DEPARTMENT WITH ITS MAIN PRIORITY BEING TO KEEP PUBLIC OPINION IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. IF THE STATUS QUO IN HONG KONG COULD BE MAINTAINED,
LOCAL PEOPLE HAD THE RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT IT AT AN EARLY DATE.
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S INFORMATION SERVICES EFFORTS OVER
THE FUTURE WERE CONTRASTED UNFAVOURABLY WITH THE EFFORTS MADE DURING THE 1967 DISTURBANCES TO COUNTER COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA.
5. THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL IN ITS EDITORIAL SAID THAT THE GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER STATION WOULD BRING MANY BENEFITS TO HONG KONG.
APART FROM GUARANTEEING A SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY TO HONG KONG AND
GUANGDONG AT A REASONABLE PRICE, IT WOULD MEAN THAT CHINA MUST RETAIN THE INTERNATIONAL STATUS AND VALUE OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR IN ORDER TO PAY OFF THE LOANS RAISED FOR THE BUILDING OF THE PLANT. THIS IN TURN MEANT THAT THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM IN HONG KONG
WOULD HAVE TO REMAIN BASICALLY UNCHANGED.
6. THE FINANCIAL DAILY (INDEPENDENT) IN ITS EDITORIAL EXPRESSED DISMAY AT THE RELUCTANCE OF CHINESE OFFICIALS LIKE JI PENGFEI
TO GIVE ANY FIRM INDICATION THAT LOCAL PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE DRAFTING OF THE MINI CONSTITUTION. THE EDITORIAL WONDERED WHY THE CHINESE WERE SO HESITANT TO ALLOW LOCAL PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN THE DRAWING UP OF A DOCUMENT OF SUCH VITAL IMPORTANCE FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
מפתיה.
ED/FED
ED/PLANNING STAFF
ED/PUSD
D/HD/PUSD(MR FLOWER)
RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER(SIR IAN SINCLAIR)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PSAR LUCE
COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND
INDUSTRY
COPIES TO:
(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS
NEWS DEPT
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
MR WRIGHT
SIR C TICKELL
RESTRICTED
ME BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
SIR A PARSONS ??
MR. MARTIN
MR GOODALL
??
ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
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