GR 400
RESTRICTED
DESK BY 01080OZ
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG 01064OZ DEC 83
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1853 OF 1 DECEMBER
TOP CORY
NIKKO40/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
"
2 ~~~1983
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
ken
смеш
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, PEKING
INFO ROUTINE HK GOVT REPS WASHINGTON, CG NEW YORK, BRUSSELS, UKMIS GENEVA
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS COVERAGE
FUTURE-RELATED STORIES DID NOT (NOT) FEATURE PROMINENTLY IN
TODAY'S PRESS.
2. YESTERDAY'S NEW EVENING POST (COMMUNIST) IN ITS EDITORIAL
SAID THAT THE LETTERS PATENT AND ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD IN
THE FUTURE BE REPLACED BY A MINI-CONSTITUTION'' DRAWN UP BY
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. THE EDITORIAL REFERRED TO THE FACT THAT
EXCO AND LEGCO MEMBERS SWORE AN OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE QUEEN
AND ASSERTED THIS SHOWED HOW UNREPRESENTATIVE THEY WERE. REFERRING
TO A COUNCILLOR WITH FOUR TITLES (A REFERENCE TO MISS MARIA
TAM) WHO CLAIMED TO REPRESENT THE GRASSROOTS, THE EDITORIAL SAID THAT IT WAS CLEAR WHICH SIDE THIS COUNCILLOR WAS ON. THE EDITORIAL
CONCLUDED BY ARGUING THAT BRITAIN HAD IN MANY CASES PREVENTED
HONG KONG FROM ENACTING LAWS WHICH HONG KONG PEOPLE WANTED.
↑
3. TODAY'S HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL (INDEPENDENT) CARRIED AN
EDITORIAL URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH A MAJOR CAMPAIGN TO ALLAY WORRIES OVER THE FUTURE AMONGST THE DISCIPLINED FORCES. SUCH PEOPLE WOULD BE THE MOST VULNERABLE TARGETS OF ANY FUTURE PURGE. IF FEAR PREVENTED THEM DOING THEIR JOB, CHINA MIGHT SEND THE PLA TO HONG KONG. TO MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER. THE PAPER WENT
ON TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE FUTURE BUT
NOT (NOT) TO ORGANISE CONCERTED OPPOSITION TO CHINA. COME WHAT MAY, PEKING'S INFLUENCE IN HONG KONG WAS ALREADY INCREASING AND OPPOSITION AGAINST CHINA'S POSITION WOULD ENDANGER HONG
KONG'S FRAGILE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. IF THERE WAS SOCIAL UNREST
IN THE TERRITORY, CHINA MIGHT BRING FORWARD ITS PLANS TO TAKE
OVER HONG KONG.
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