56
GPS 500
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 270240Z OCT 84
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3322 OF 27 OCTOBER
HKK 040/25
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
TOR
22 OCT 1984
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPS WASHINGTON, CG NEW YORK, BRUSSELS, UKMIS GENEVA
MY TELEGRAM NO 3266: FUTURE OF HONG KONG:
REPORT ON PUBLIC OPINION.
SUMMARY
THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE MOVEMENT IN OPINION DURING THE PAST WEEK, THOUGH THERE IS A CONTINUING TENDENCY FOR PEOPLE TO COMBINE PUBLIC OPTIMISM WITH PRIVATE NERVOUSNESS. THE DRAFT AGREEMENT HAS CONTINUED ITS GRADUAL WITHDRAWAL FROM THE CENTRE. OF ATTENTION. PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AHEAD AGAIN, AND CONCERN IS CENTERING ON THE BASIC LAW.
DETAIL
2. DISTRICT OFFICERS REPORT THAT INTEREST IN THE DETAILED PROVISIONS OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT IS NOW DECREASING, AND THAT SPONTANEOUS PUBLIC DISCUSSION IS DYING DOWN. SOME REPORT PRIVATE SSUPPORT FOR THE DECISION BY MR. SWAINE AND MR. CHAN TO ABSTAIN IN THE RECENT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE (PARAGRAPH 4 OF TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE).
3. FIVE MORE DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE ENDORSED THE DRAFT AGREEMENT DURING THE PAST WEEK.
4. EVIDENCE CONTINUES TO SURFACE THAT, HOWEVER MUCH THEY MAY APPLAUD THE DRAFT AGREEMENT PUBLICLY, MOST MIDDLE-CLASS PROFESSIONALS ARE WHEREVER POSSIBLE KEEPING EMIGRATION OPTIONS
OPEN.
5. THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY HAS REPORTED THAT REACTION AMONG INDUSTRIALISTS HAS GENERALLY BEEN GUARDEDLY OPTIMISTIC ALTHOUGH THERE REMAINS A GOOD DEAL OF CONCERN OVER THE WAY THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT WILL ACTUALLY BE IMPLEMENTED''.
PA
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6. PEOPLE ARE INCREASINGLY NOW LOOKING AHEAD TO THE BASIC LAW AS THE TOUCHSTONE OF CHINESE SINCERITY. THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST HAS CALLED (IN AN EDITORIAL ON 23 OCTOBER) FOR MAXIMUM PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IT SHOULD CONTAIN. PEKING MAY AT THE END OF THE DAY STILL RESERVE TO ITSELF THE RIGHT TO FORMULATE THE BASIC LAW, BUT IT IS FAR BETTER TO DO SO ON THE BASIS OF KNOWN OPINION IN HONG KONG THAN FOR US TO WAIT FOR CHINA TO MAKE THE RUNNING''. THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT UMELCO WILL SET UP A PANEL TO CANVAS VIEWS ON THE BASIC LAW HAS BEEN GENERALLY WELCOMED.
CONFIDEN
REGISTRY
Action Taken
(59