TNAG-0839-FCO40-1048-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1979 — Page 120

6.6

KESTRICTED

FEC OLY

BGR

Mr Williamson it AGD

The

Pumping (23)

igly

British Embassy PEKING

19 APR 1979

DLSK Or INDEX

6 April 1979

Dr D C Wilson Esq

Political Adviser HONG KONG

уского

MD Trick A M. ST

2 3 APP 1979

INDEX:

No

J25.4

s

WORKER'S DAILY: CAPITALIST SOCIETY IS NO PARADISE WORKER'

1. V

You may be interested to see the attached article from Gongren Ribao of 3 April, in which workers are encouraged to follow the example of Nanjing mechanics in "seeking truth- from facts" to reach the conclusion that life in the socialist fatherland is, after all, better than the cruel exploitation This of course and lack of welfare in a capitalist society. reflects the recent corrective trend against too vigorous demands for freedom and democracy as opposed to discipline and the collective good. No doubt there have been too many "minorities" subscribing to the view that "all is well in capitalist countries".

2. It is not surprising that Hong Kong is chosen for illustration of an inhumane capitalist society: many Chinese have second hand information about it, it is the prime goal for emigration, and does suffer from many quotable social ills, even if there is no comparison with those of the socialist fatherland. One can only hope that a large proportion of the readers of such articles and participants of such exercises fail to see the hypocrisy and irony in this and decide to stay at home.

cc RC Fursland Esq, FED, FCO

RESTRICTED

K Sullivan First Secretary

Page 120Page 121