TNAG-1234-FCO40-1547-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 86

GR 200

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG 25094DZ JAN 83

TO PRIORITY FCO

RESTRICTED

TELEGRAM NUMBER 131 OF 25 JANUARY

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS COVERAGE

OP COP

HKK 0 40!!. 40/1

24 JAN 1983

65

m

PROMINENT AND WIDESPREAD COVERAGE WAS GIVEN IN THE LOCAL PRESS ON 25 JANUARY TO REMARKS MADE AT THE LATEST OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY'S REGULAR OFF THE RECORD PRESS BRIEFINGS, WHICH TOOK PLACE ON 24 JANUARY. THESE BRIEFINGS TEND TO BE REPRODUCED WHOLESALE AND IN RATHER A CLUMSY MANNER BY THE HONG KONG PRESS. THE POINT GIVEN MOST ATTENTION WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNOR TAKING PART

IN NEGOTIATIONS ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE.

2. IN THE COURSE OF THE PRESS BRIEFING A JOURNALISTS RAISED THE QUESTION OF THE TREATIES AND WHETHER BRITAIN STILL DREW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE CEDED TERRITORIES AND THE NEW TERRITORIES. THE CHIEF SECRETARY SIDE STEPPED THIS SAYING THAT HONG KONG HAD LONG BEEN ADMINISTERED AND DEVELOPED AS A SINGLE ENTITY AND IT WAS THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AS A WHOLE WHICH WAS AT ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN PICKED UP AND DISTORTED BY THE WEN WET PO (COMMUNIST) IN

A COMMENTARY ARTICLE. THE ARTICLE SUGGESTED THAT THE CHIEF SECRETARY HAD REASERTED THE VALIDITY OF THE TREATIES. IT SAID THAT THIS WAS A 19TH CENTURY IMPERIALIST ATTITUDE AND SAID THAT ONE OF THE QUOTE BRITISH RULERS OF HONG KONG UNQUOTE SHOULD NOT INSULT THE CHINESE PEOPLE ON CHINA'S DOORSTEP.

HADDON-CAVE

See 85

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD! HKGD

COPIES TO

THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED

SIR I SINCLAIR

HD/FED

MR ROBERTS

LEGAL ADVISER

NEWS D

ED/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

PS

PS/MR HURD

MR COLES

MR MARTIN

PS/LORD BELSTEAD

NO 10 DOWNING STREET

ASSESSMENTS STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

PS/PUS

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

SIR I BULLARD

RESTRICTED