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11-MAY-1992
16:40
To: Overseas Offices
From: DIS (Lange, OPRS)
INFORMATION SERVICES DEPT
+ 852 521 7242
P.01
Date: 9 May, 1992
Log No: OPRS/L/328
Pages: 1
Overview
Weekly Overseas Media Summary
(May 1-7, 1992)
B
the
Overseas media coverage of HK issues ranged over a number of topics with HKBank takeover, the Patten appointment and aspects of the new airport project all continuing to be reported. But no single issue dominated the headlines.
Political
not
a new
The Governor-designate received printed advice from several quarters during the US-based week. Noting the UK priority of keeping good relations with China, Business Week said the next Governor would probably be cautious about making any changes. It noted that the dwindling prospects for democracy in HK had stopped stock prices, real estate and investment reaching new highs. Two letters he should published in the Independent gave conflicting advice to Mr Patten -
to the resist standing up to China (Anthony Teasdale, former special adviser Foreign Secretary) while another reader suggested he should deliver Declaration of Rights for HK. AFinancial Times supplement on HK said Mr Patten's main task was to preside over the peaceful transfer of HK to China. The Australian Financial Review also carried an FT story about the problems to be Paced by Patten. The Surkday Express carried a two-page feature speculating what
life will be like for the Patten family and the Times had a lengthy
lengthy interview Lavender Patten. Both the Age and ABC Radio had reports of Martin Lee's to Australia and his urging of the Australian government to support HK's for democracy. In a separate story, the Age and the Canberra Times picked up a Reuter report quoting the SCMP's opinion poll of overwhelming support for the new Governor to push for democracy.
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visit push
Tsing Ma Bridge Contract/ New Airport
The Times, the Daily Telegraph and the Financial Times carried reports that Anglo-Japanese consortium of Trafalgar House/Mitsui was set to win the
the
contract
DT,
civil
for the bridge - a decision likely to draw criticism of "favouritism". The
contract were quoting a government source, said leaks about the award of the part of a a softening up process to dampen hostility. The Evening Standard, reporting the official announcement said it could rebound on UK engineering firms bidding for other contracts associated with the airport. Under the Times the heading "State to cover cost of overruns of second HK airport",
also carried a prominent story on the airport financing plan. The plan was
the Wall Street reported in the Financial Times, and across the Atlantic in Journal and Journal of Commerce.
Bank Takeover
in
Lloyds rival bid for Midland was given extensive coverage in the finance pages of the quality papers during the previous weekend, while a prominent article the FT outlined the importance of the HKBank to HK and vice versa. The Times said the European competition commissioner was expected to investigate the HSBC bid.
The Wall Street Journal said signals from both HSBC and Lloyds suggested the rival bidders would turn their contest into a political showdown, while the Daily Telegraph said Gordon Wu (at a seminar organised by GIS
by GIS (OPRS) had attempted to soothe Chinese fears over the merger.
VMS
News that Britain and Vietnam were about to sign an agreement repatration of VMs from HK was carried in a number of UK papers. said the agreement was likely to be criticised by the US and organisations, but would be welcomed in HK.
ADB
on forcible The Guardian human rights
Commerce and while. BBC-TV
Speeches by the Governor and FS were picked up in the Journal of the Australian in their prominent coverage of the ADB meeting, Business Breakfast carried an upbeat interview with the FS on the HK economy well as other positive reports from HK.
as
ASA
TOTAL