RESTRICTED
SECONDLY, CHINA CLAIMED THAT AFTER 1997 HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD ENJOY NO LESS DEMOCRACY THAT AT PRESENT. BUT IN FACT THERE WAS NO (NO) DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG NOW. IN ANY CASE HONG KONG PEOPLE WANTED FREEDOM, NOT DEMOCRACY.
5. THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST CARRIED A LENGTHY REVIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF THE TALKS SO FAR WHICH ARGUED THAT THE TALKS COULD PROBABLY PROCEED STEADILY EVEN IF MAKING ONLY A LITTLE PROGRESS AT EACH ROUND WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF AN AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE BY SEPTEMBER 1984. NOTING THAT INFORMAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES WOULD CONTINUE, THE PAPER SPECULATED THAT THERE MIGHT BE MEETING BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND LI JUSHENG IN HONG KONG.
6. SEVERAL INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS RELAYED ACCOUNTS OF YESTERDAYS
OFFICIALLY EDITORIAL IN THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WHICH ARGUED THAT !! INSPIRED GLOOM ABOUT HONG KONG HAS LONG LOOKED EXAGGERATED'' SINCE INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS GAVE BRITAIN A RELATIVELY STRONG POSITION TO BARGAIN FOR CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE RUNNING OF
HONG KONG,
HADDON-CAVE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIRATHED
ED/FED
ED/PLANNING STAFF
ED/PUSD
D/ED/PUSD(MR FLOWER)
RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER(SIR IAN SINCLAIR)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PSAR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
MR FRIGHT
SIR C TICKELL
2
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)
NEWS DEPT
MR ROBERTS
MR. BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR. COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR A PARSONS
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF
MR GOODALL
HR BRENNAN
CABINET OFFICE
CABINET OFFICE
Π
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE
RESTRICTED PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL