UNCLASSIFIED
pa.
Press Roundys
053525
MDLIAN 4816
60
HKB 301/2
RECEIVED INISTRY
16 JUL 1993
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
DESK OFFICER
Q DIST?
TOP COPY
INDEX
PA
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1137
OF 13080OZ JULY 93
INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO ROUTINE HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK, HKGO SAN FRANCISCO INFO ROUTINE HKGO GENEVA
PART ONE OF TWO:
HONG KONG FUTURE: PRESS COVERAGE (7.7 13.7).
SUMMARY.
1.
PROMINENT COVERAGE WAS GIVEN TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO PEKING. MOST WELCOMED THE RESULTS OF THE TRIP, WHICH INCLUDED CHINESE AGREEMENT TO THE CENTRAL/WANCHAI RECLAMATION PROJECT.
SECRETARY OF STATE.
2. THE PAPERS (7.7) REPORTED PROMINENTLY THE REMARKS MADE BY MR
HURD IN SINGAPORE THAT CHINA HAD TO ACCEPT THE REALITY THAT
HONG KONG HAD EVOLVED INTO A COMMERCIAL AS WELL AS A POLITICAL CITY. HE SAID HONG KONG, LIKE OTHER SOCIETIES, WAS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING: WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAD COME POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT. MR HURD SAID HE WOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY DURING HIS COMING VISIT TO CHINA TO MAKE CLEAR THE BRITISH STANCE ON MAJOR ISSUES, INCLUDING THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A SET OF ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WERE ACCEPTABLE TO HONG KONG PEOPLE. HE ALSO STRESSED LEGISLATORS ELECTED IN 1995 SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SERVE UNTIL 1999.
3.
THE HONG KONG COMMERCIAL DAILY PICKED ON MR HURD'S REMARKS
THAT HONG KONG HAD BECOME A 'POLITICAL CITY' AND CONSIDERED BRITAIN'S INTENTION BEHIND THE THROUGH TRAIN PROPOSAL WAS TO
MAINTAIN HER COLONIAL INFLUENCE IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997.
4. NCNA VICE DIRECTOR ZHANG JUNSHENG SAID (9.7) BRITAIN AND
CHINA SHOULD RESOLVE THE HONG KONG QUESTION BY ADHERING TO THE JD AND ENSURING CONVERGENCE WITH THE BL. ANY DEVIATION FROM THIS PRINCIPLE WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO HONG KONG. MFA SPOKESMAN WU JIANMIN SAID HONG KONG WAS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS
1
PAGE
UNCLASSIFIED