RESTRICTED
4. PRESS COMMENT: MOST INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED EDITORIALS IN SUPPORT OF THE GREEN PAPER, AGREEING IN PARTICULAR THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS AT THIS STAGE WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE. COMMUNIST PAPERS MADE NO COMMENT. CENTRE DAILY NEWS (PRO-PEKING) SAID THAT THE PROPOSALS SEEMED DESIGNED TO ACT AS A BARRIER AGAINST CHINA'S INTERFERENCE IN THE TRANSITION PERIOD: GIVEN PEKING'S ASSURANCES, THIS WAS UNNECESSARY AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHOULD INSTEAD CONCENTRATE ON A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND CONTINUITY, TIN TIN DAILY NEWS (PRO-PEKING) CALLED FOR FASTER DEMOCRATIZATION AND ALSO SUGGESTED THAT PEKING'S CONSENT SHOULD BE SOUGHT IN THE CASE OF AT LEAST HALF THE APPOINTED MEMBERS OF EXCO AND LEGCO. HONG KONG DAILY NEWS (PRO-TAIPEI), SUPPORTED THE GREEN PAPER.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISERS(SIR J FREELAND) PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
SIR C TICKELL MR GOODALL
2
COPIES TO:-
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO:- (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT
MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS
MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS
MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST.
MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST.
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFI
MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN
CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE
PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P CRADOCK ROOM K195
SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.
HR 20
RESTRICTED
LONDON