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WERE DONE CORRECTLY IT WOULD BE OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE TO BOTH THE
STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG AND THE MAINLAND.
3. THE EDITORIAL CONCLUDED BY CITING LI PENG'S WORK REPORT TO THE NPC, IN WHICH LI STRESSED HIS CONFIDENCE IN THE PATRIOTISM OF THE COMPATRIOTS IN HONG KONG AND MACAO, AND HIS CONFIDENCE THAT HONG KONG'S SMOOTH TRANSITION WOULD BE REALISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BASIC LAW AND THAT AFTER HONG KONG'S RETURN TO CHINA A MORE STABLE AND PROSPEROUS HONG KONG WOULD EMERGE.
COMMENT.
4. THERE IS LITTLE THAT IS NEW IN THE EDITORIAL, WHICH HAD IN ANY CASE BEEN FORESHADOWED IN THE HONG KONG PRESS ON 3 APRIL. THE
TIMING OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE EDITORIAL IS UNDOUBTEDLY DUE TO THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROMULGATION OF THE BASIC LAW RATHER THAN
THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT. THE EDITORIAL LAYS GREAT STRESS ON
HONG KONG'S FUTURE RELYING ON THE EFFORTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND CHINA, WITH NO MENTION OF ANY BRITISH ROLE. THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY SURPRISING IN AN ARTICLE WHICH IS PRAISING THE BASIC LAW, IE CHINA'S LAW, BUT IT DOES REFLECT THE INCREASING EMPHASIS PUT ON UNITED FRONT TACTICS RECENTLY, EG IN ZHOU NAN'S COMMENTS TO DELEGATES FROM THE GUANGDONG PC (MY TELNO 431).
DONALD
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MAIN
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DISTRIBUTION
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.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
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HKD
HD/FED
NEWS D
PUSD RAD
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
SIR J COLES
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PLANNERS
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MS BARRETT LEGAL ADVISERS MISS BROOKS LEGAL ADVISERS
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