UNCLASSIFIED
131446
MDLIAN 4328
25. THE MEDIA (31.3) WIDELY NOTED THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD REPORTED TOLD THE SINGAPORE BROADCASTING CORPORATION THAT HE MIGHT BE MOVED OUT AGAINST HIS WILL. THE GOVERNOR'S SPOKESMAN, MIKE HANSON, DENIED THE REPORT SAYING THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD STAY ON UNTIL THE END OF JUNE 1997.
SHANGHAI'S LIBERATION DAILY COMMENTARY
26. MANY PAPERS (24.3) NOTED A SIGNED COMMENTARY IN SHANGHAI LIBERATION DAILY WHICH SUGGESTED THAT IT WOULD BE SENSIBLE TO REPLACE THE GOVERNOR. THE COMMENTARY SAID THE GOVERNOR HAD UPSET HK'S SMOOTH TRANSITION AND MADE BRITAIN LOSE FACE BY SETTING A PRECEDENT OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT NOT HONOURING INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS. IT LAMBASTED THE GOVERNOR FOR BEING A DESCENDENT OF STINKING COLONIALISM.
CNA COMMENTARY
27. MANY PAPERS (29.3) CARRIED A CNA SIGNED COMMENTARY ENTITLED 'THE CHANCE FOR OPENING THE DOOR OF SINO-BRITISH NEGOTIATION'S. THE COMMENTARY SAID THAT THE SITUATION WAS NOT ALTOGETHER HOPELESS. AT LEAST IN THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES THE CHINESE SIDE HAD NOT TAKEN A PUBLIC POSITION OF REFUSING TALKS IN THE FUTURE. THE QUESTION WAS THAT THE BRITISH SIDE, THROUGH THE GOVERNOR, HAD CLOSED THE DOOR OF NEGOTIATIONS AND THE CHINESE SIDE COULD NOT BREAK IN. WHETHER THE DOOR COULD BE RE-OPENED DEPENDED ON THE ACTION AND SINCERITY OF THE BRITISH. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE REFORM BILL TO LEGCO WOULD NOT BE CONDUCIVE TO TALKS.
BAUHINIA
28. SOME PAPERS (30.3) NOTED THAT 2 COMMENTARIES IN THE APRIL ISSUE OF BAUHINIA MAGAZINE CONTINUED TO ATTACK THE BRITISH POSITION IN RE-OPENING TALKS. ONE COMMENTARY LISTED OUT 4 REASONS FOR CHINESE OBJECTION TO HAVING HONG KONG OFFICIALS IN TALKS. IT SAID HONG KONG OFFICIALS COULD NOT REPRESENT PUBLIC VIEWS AND THAT IN THE JD, THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG WAS A MATTER FOR THE CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS. HKG THEREFORE HAD NO RIGHT TO TAKE PART IN THE DECISION MAKING OF THE 2 GOVERNMENTS.
WARREN CHRISTOPHER
29. SOME PAPERS (31.3) NOTED THE US SECRETARY OF STATE, WARREN CHRISTOPHER AS SAYING THAT HE SUPPORTED THE GOVERNOR'S
CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS AND HOPED THAT THEY COULD SURVIVE 1997. "
SINO-BRITISH TRADE
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