3.4
THE EXTENT AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MEDIA COVERAGE MONITORED BY THE OFFICE IS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPHS 2.10 AND 2.11. ITS DEPTH AND RANGE HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE. THE OVERALL PICTURE FROM THE MEDIA IS ONE OF GENERAL ACCEPTANCE
OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT. A SMALL NUMBER OF NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES IS KNOWN CONSISTENTLY TO TAKE A PRO-BEIJING OR PRO-TAIWAN STAND BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE DAILY NEWSPAPERS AND MAGIZINES READ BY THE BULK OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE HAVE NO DISCERNIBLE POLITICAL LEANINGS. THESE PUBLICATIONS AND
THE COVERAGE GIVEN BY RADIO AND TELEVISION HAVE CONSISTENTLY TAKEN THE VIEW THAT THE DRAFT AGREEMENT IS ACCEPTABLE IN GENERAL TERMS. THIS VIEW IS ILLUSTRATED BY
THE FOLLOWING QUOTATIONS :-
''IT HAS PRODUCED A DOCUMENT THAT, IF NOTHING ELSE, WILL BE READ BY FUTURE GENERATIONS AS
A LANDMARK OF GOOD SENSE, HUMAN
REASONABLENESS, DELICATE COMPROMISE AND HIGH IDEALISM. AND IF IT SUCCEEDS, AS WE
EARNESTLY HOPE IT WILL, NOT JUST HONG KONG,
BUT THE WORLD WILL BE A BETTER PLACE.''
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
27.9.84
''THE CONTENT OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT IS BETTER
THAN EXPECTED.''
- (TRANSLATION)
ORIENTAL DAILY 27.9.84
''MEETS THE WISHES OF HONG KONG PEOPLE.''
-
(TRANSLATION).
MING PAO
27.9.84
''THE DOCUMENTS PROVIDE THE MOST SOLID
POSSIBLE FOUNDATION ON WHICH THE COMMUNITY
OF HONG KONG AND THOSE WHO TRADE WITH AND
INVEST IN HONG KONG CAN GO ON BUILDING
PROSPERITY.''
DEREK DAVIS
FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC
REVIEW 4.10.84
''FROM RECENT OBSERVATIONS, A VAST MAJORITY
OF HONG KONG PEOPLE FIND THE DRAFT AGREEMENT
SATISFACTORY.''
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-
SECRET
(TRANSLATION)
JOSEPH CHENG WIDE ANGLE
16.10.84
.at
/VIENS