GPS 250
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FM HONG KONG 110345Z DECEMBER 82
Micke 026/3
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1457 OF 11 DECEMBER
PA
INFO IMMEDIATE BANGKOK (FOR PS TO LORD BELSTEAD) PRIORITY PEKING
LORD BELSTEAD'S PRESS CONFERENCE: PRESS COVERAGE.
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THE PRESS CONFERENCE WAS GIVEN PROMINENT AND EXTENSIVE
COVERAGE IN BOTH THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND THE CHINESE LANGUAGE
PRESS. THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PRESS, THE INDEPENDENT AND RIGHT
WING CHINESE PRESS PAID PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING
POINTS:-
A. THE NEED TO REMAIN CALM AND NOT ALLOW REMARKS MADE OUTSIDE THE
NEGOTIATIONS TO PREJUDICE PEOPLE'S VIEW OF THEM.
B. THE NEED FOR A SOLUTION TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE CHINESE
LEADERSHIP, THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
C. CONFIDENCE THAT A SOLUTION ACCEPTABLE TO ALL CONCERNED
WOULD BE FOUND.
D. THE POSSIBILITY MY TAKING PART IN THE TALKS.
2. THE COMMUNIST PRESS ALSO GAVE PROMINENT BUT SELECTIVE
COVERAGE TO THE CONFERENCE, CONCENTRATING ON LORD BELSTEAD'S ASSERTION THAT GOOD RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA WOULD
FACILITATE THE SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION.
3. THE ONLY EDITORIAL COMMENT SO FAR HAS COME FROM THE
INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL DAILY AND 2 RIGHT WING PAPERS, KUNG
SHEUNG DAILY AND EXPRESS. THE FINANCIAL DAILY URGED ALL SIDES
TO REFRAIN FROM EXCESSIVE PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES:
THE KUNG SHEUNG APPEALED TO HONG KONG PEOPLE TO REMAIN CALM.
THE EXPRESS ENDORSED LORD BELSTEAD'S REMARKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUITY, SAYING THAT THE CONTINUATION OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM WAS A PREREQUISITE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S
STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.
YOUDE
LIMITED
HRGD (4)
FEA
PLANNING STAFF
PUSD
NEWS D
PS
SIRT BULLARO MR GIFFARD MR DONALD
COPIES
70
ADVISERS
SIR J SINCLAIR LEGAL
MR COLES
NO 10 DOWNING ST
MR MARHN
ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
PSİMR HURD
PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/PUS
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