"Moreover, no one can be sure whether the existing Chinese Government will still be in power in 21 years' time," the paper said.
In his second editorial, the paper felt that the Chinese Government would not consider taking back Hong Kong since it had to comend with more and more internal "power struggles" and other pressing domestic problems.
The paper pointed out that taking back Hong Kong would only create more problems for China.
SING TAO WAN PAO (28.4.76) said that Mr. Wolff's statement had not had any effect on Hong Kong's stock market.
“This shows that the public has already gained a very good understanding of Hong Kong's stable position," the paper said.
Both NAM WAH MAN PAG (29.4.76) and WAH KIU YAT PO (30. 4.76) called on the public to be calm and said that Hong Kong's future did not present any cause for worry.
NAM WAH MAN PAO said: "The Chinese Government, which has already indicated that maintaining Hong Kong's status quo is in China's best interests, has always intended to maintain Hong Kong's present position."
The left-wing HONG KONG EVENING NEWS (29.4.76) felt that Hong Kong was very valuable to Britain and that the British Govern- ment was anxious to know about Hong Kong's future.
The paper speculated that the future of Hong Kong would be raised by the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Crosland, during his visit to China.
Another left-wing paper, TIN FUNG YAT PO (30.4.76), said that there was no doubt that Hong Kong would one day become part of China, but the key question was when the Chinese Government would want this to happen.
Why do the Chinese in Hong Kong have to worry if the Chinese Government decides to take back Hong Kong, the paper asked.
INDUSTRIAL LAND AND
PUBLIC HOUSING
On April 28 an Unofficial Legislative Counciller, Mr. Jomos MH. Wu, spoke on the Hong Kong Industrial Estates Provisional Authority Sill 1973 in relation to land prices.
During the week, four papers commented on Industrial land prices.
The proposed Asian Development wunk's long- torm loan to finance Hong Kong's Lousing programme und the Housing Society's offer to sell flats to residents of the Society's Estates waro also discussed by the paport.
SING TAO WAN PAO (29.4.76) shared Mr. Wu's view that industrial land prices have skyrocketed to an unprecedented and intolerable level during the last six months.
The paper said that the Government should make available as much industrial land as possible at public auction to meet the urgent demand.
"The Government should be far-sighted in its economic policy and give top priority to promoting industry which is vital to Hong Kong," the paper said.
It warned the Government against placing too much emphasis on getting more revenue by boosting up prices for industrial land as this would scare away investors who intend to set up factories in Hong Kong.
The left-wing NEW EVENING POST (29.4.76) reiterated its attack on the Government's "three high policy" (high land prices, rents and taxation).
The paper welcomed the address by Mr. Wu. and urged all sectors of the community to voice their protest against the "three high" policy.
WAH KIU MAN PO (2.5.76) said high industrial land prices, rising labour costs and reduced access to foreign markets were three stumbling blocks to Hong Kong's industrial development.
The paper said the proposed Hong Kong Industrial Estates Provisional Authority Bill 1976 was, in principle, the right medicine to help ease high industrial land prices.
Growing labour wages and import restrictions could be tackled by the introduction of modern management and technology and the manufacture of sophisticated products, the paper said.
However, the problem over the shortage and high prices of industrial land remained to be solved, the paper
added.
ORIENTAL DAILY (30.4.76) pointed out that there were no bids for three lots of Crown land on the Wanchai Reclamation because the upset price was too steep.
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