Hong Kong Standard Sunday fure-8; 1969
LEADER PAGE PAGE 10
Opinion
Lord Shepherd leaves UŠ a bitter pill
LORD Shepherd's farewell remarks at Kaitak
yesterday caused a lot of disappointment.
It was hoped he would say something definite on much-needed reforms in the Legislative Council and the Urban Council.
Lord Shepherd refused to be pinned down to say anything definite on reforms. By his
evasiveness, he made it all the more clear that reforms, in fact, are out, not just for now, but perhaps forever.
All this comes as a great let-down for Hongkong and its people who felt that at least after his second visit, he would have something more to say than what we have heard before.
We have had enough of sympathetic understanding of our problems without the vigorous leadership to solve them.
Hongkong belatedly needs a measure of reforms aligned with the aspirations of people. clamouring for moderate reforms that would not necessarily upset the political boat.
This is reasonable to ask, as Hongkong people should have more say in running their own affairs.
We all know this is a Colony and that reforms, if they are to be carried out, must be done so within the Colony's administrative framework,
For Lord Shepherd to keep harping on this theme is not only to accentuate the obvious, but to underestimate the intelligence of most Hongkong people.
On things that did not touch on reforms, Lord Shepherd was outspoken, as he could well afford to be.
But he still went over familiar ground when he talked of the urgency to provide our youths with better opportunities.
As for the $90 million Kaitak loan, it was surprising that Lord Shepherd waited eight days to say what he could have said on the first day of his arrival.
This loan issue, we wish to point out, has been pending for years. The Governor, Sir David Trench, on his return from Britain, said he had talks with the Coloïfial Office about it and, more or less, hinted that Hongkong would get it.
Now comes the big let down. Are there any mote to come!
It took Foud Ghepherd two years belone be kelturbed dopjesevcoil trip de Hombop.
We should think utter at afrance of Two years, Lord Shepherd would have brought with him some better news for Hongkong.
What, in fact, he has done icsimply to stir the same old mixture and to expect Hongkong people to drink it
We me ut the indutan
Perils
29
Pl. Ron Vicit file
of fore
Corres
WHEN the Ninth Party Congress met recently pondents stationed in the Chißese Communist capi the proceedings.
Coverage was limited to three press communique the Congress Presidium on April 1, 14 and 24.
Foreign journalists writing/critical articles about the Pa being expelled from the country, as indeed was the case wit the Hungarian MTI News Agency.
On April 21, the 33-year-old Patak, who arrived in Pekinų a year ago, was given three days' notice to leave China fo allegedly "having defamed China in his news dispatches.” Ik was also reportedly accused by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs of havig criticised Peking's top leaders whih the Party Congress was in session.
The expulsion of the Hungarian Journalist reduced the foreign press corps in Peking toil, from 35 at the ouse of the Cultural Revolution in 1966.
Most of the other 24 Were expelfed by the Chinese authorities,, al- though some were recalled by their house offices on the grounds that it possible to report impartial- ly the news from Peking without Aeopardising their personal safety.
T
Significantly, Russian correspondents were among the earliest journalistic casualties caught in the crossfire of the Cultura) Revolution's power struggle
Slanders
Three of the Russians based in Peking were order. ed to leave) in late 1966 becaind wah ini.
of their detailed Coverage of the Cultural Revolution. They charged with\ "spreading
REIN
TUMOWIN
were
and slanders,' |le| represŝutative of the Sovjet Com
REGISTRATheftor at Pandun
12 JUN 1969 1961.
Chairman
voice
Ceuly 1967, & noted.
was expired from
yas Hijinko Bogunovich
HILIL
Tanjong 11.. ༼་
in p
hy
***
•
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.