TNAG-0849-FCO40-1059-Future-of-Hong-Kong-New-Territories-leases-1979 — Page 77

CONFIDENTIAL

HEF OCOLL

RELIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

1 JUN1979

OFFICER

PA

25 May, 1979

REGISTRY Action Taken

J T Masefield Esq

Far Eastern Department

FCO

ما

23075

COLLIENTS BY DONG XIANG ON THE BRITISH ELECTION AND SONG ZHINGUANG'S REMARKS ON HONG KONG

I am enclosing a translation of an article in the last issue of Dong Xiang (The Trend). This particular journal is close to the Party organisation, and sold in Communist bookstores, although it does not strictly follow the official Party line.

2.

Quite apart from what is said about the election and Mrs Thatcher, I was interested by the interpretation the journal puts on the remarks made by Mr Song on the future of Hong Kong. Although we do not see it that way ourselves, the fact that such a

journal can speculate that his remarks were designed as an "election gift to Mrs Thatcher probably reflects accurately the Chinese view that what he said was all designed to boost confidence in Hong Kong.

cc WE Quantrill Esq

(DC Wilson)

Hong Kong & General Dept

K Sullivan Esq Peking

CONFIDENTIAL

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