TNAG-1156-FCO40-1436-Visits-by-FCO-Ministers-to-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 122

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Ming Pao (11.1.82) and the New Evening Post (7.1.82) believed Mr. Atkins's visit to China would further improve Sino-British relations. Echoing this view was Ta Kung Pao

6.1.82), which played up a statement by Chinese Vice-Premier Ji Pengfei to Mr. Atkins that prospects for development of relations between the two countries were broad and bright. In a similar train of thought, Wen Wei Po (6.1.82) stressed that friendly co-operation between the two nations would bring long-term benefits to the UK as well as prosperity and stability to Hong Kong.

The New Evening Post (10.1.82) reiterated that people should set their minds at case in view of the close Sino-British ties. In a commentary (7.1.82), Wen Wei remarked that to those who were at a loss on the question of Hong Kong's future, Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang's statement to Mr. Atkins that he was satisfied with the development of Sino-British relations and that both sides should have confidence, should be enlightening. Also referring to Mr. Zhao's remark, the Hong Kong Commercial Daily (7.1.82) said confidence was vital to both the development of Anglo-Chinese relations and the question of Hong Kong's future.

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Distribution:

SHA

D.I.S. D.D.I.S.

AD/PPR

(Attn. Mr. R.C. Masefield)

(3 copies, with enclosure of cuttings)