3
4.
It seems that, during the visit, attempts were made to reassure the businessmen about China's attitude towards Hong Kong. They also seem to have been given instructions to spread the message when they returned. Clearly one objective of the visit was to step up "United Front" work in Hong Kong and Macau. We know that this is a major feature of the current Party line. The other objective seems to have been to ensure if possible that business confidence in the future of Hong Kong does not vane to China's disadvantage. The general message is clear and encouraging.. However, there do not appear to be any significant new points about the long-term future. One has to contrast throw-away remarks about the unimportance of the lease attributed to Li Chu-sheng with Wang Ping-nan's specific reference to the 99 year period.
5.
The one article which is slightly out of line and goes a little further than the rest is that in the journal, CHENG MING. So far we know little about this journal. It is clearly pro-communist and its advent was advertised in the leading communist paper, TA KUNG PAO. It is being sold in the communist book shops. However, I do not think that we can take every word which appears in it as being the straight Party gospel. I thought I would try to get some Party reaction to the article by asking both Liang, the Director of the NCNA, and Li, his Deputy, what they thought of the new journal. They both claimed that they had not seen it and appeared, quite genuinely, to be none too clear about its existence.. We shall try to find out more about this particular journal and its links with the Party apparatus.
6.
Meanwhile I think we should take it that, although the Chinese are trying to inspire confidence in Hong Kong, particularly amongst businessmen, they are still trying to do so without departing from their habitual imprecision about their long-term intentions.
(DC Wilson)
сс
JAB Stevart Esq OBE (HKGD FCO)
HC Hainworth Esq CMG
(Research Dept FCO)
KC Walker Esq
(Assessments Staff, Cabinet Office)
PJ L Popplewell Esq
(PEKING)
CW Squire Esq
(WASHINGTON)
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