TNAG-1235-FCO40-1548-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 66

CONFIDENTIAL

3. THE ARTICLE CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT THE BEST WAY TO STOP LOOKING

TO THE PAST AND CONCENTRATE ON THE FUTURE WOULD BE FOR BRITIAN

TO ABROGATE THE TREATIES AND RECOGNISE CHINA'S SOVEREIGNTY,

''DISCUSSION OF THE HONG KONG PROBLEM CANNOT IGNORE HISTORY. AS VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE NPC PENG ZHEN SAID 'RESPECT HISTORY, RESPECT

PRESENT REALITIES AND PIN YOUR HOPES ON THE FUTURE. IF THESE

THREE PHRASES CONSTITUTE THE 13-LEGGED STOOL' THE PROBLEM WILL BE

EASILY SOLVED''

4. COMMENT. THOUGH THE EMPHASIS IS ON THE NEED TO ABROGATE THE

TREATIES, THE TONE OF THE NEW EVENING POST EDITORIAL IS MILDER

THAN THAT OF OTHER RECENT HISTORICAL COMMENTARIES IN THE COMMUNIST

PRESS. IT IS NOT CLEAR WHEN, OR IN WHAT CONTEXT PENG ZHEN MADE

THE REMARKS ATTRIBUTED TO HIM.

YOUDE

[THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED]

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

TEMLINED

HD! HKG D

COPIES TO

STR I SINCLAIR

ED/TED

MR ROBERTS

ED/PLANNING STAFF MR GIFFARD

HD/PUSD

MR DONALD

PS

MR COLES

MR MARLIN

NO 10 DOWNING STREET

PS/LORD BELSTEAD

LEGAL ADVISER

NEWS D

ASSESSMENTS STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

PS/MR HURD

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

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