TNAG-1239-FCO40-1552-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 65

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CONFIDENTIAL

public interest rather than a reflection of a rise to power.

goes without saying that the key appointments at the Congress

went to Party members.

It

5. Three main reports were delivered: Premier Zhao's report on

the Work of the Government; Vice-Premier Yao Yilin's Report on

the 1983 Plan for National Economic and Social Development; and

Finance Minister Wang Bingqian's Report on the Final State

曙

Accounts for 1982. In addition written reports were presented

on the Work of the Supreme People's Court, the Work of the

Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Work of the Standing

Committee of the Fifth NPC. Of these six, only the first two

and the report on the Work of the Supreme People's Court were

of interest.

The Economy

a) General

6. The view of the average Chinese is that Hu Yaobang, the

Party General Secretary, is impetuous, whereas Premier Zhao and

the veteran economist Chen Yun are more cautious. An example

often quoted is that during Zhao's tour of Africa in 1982/83

the Chinese press was filled with strident calls for rapid

industrial reform. When he returned the calls were muted. The

direction was not changed but the complexity of the issues was

highlighted. Seen thus, it was the economic views of Zhao and

Chen Yun which

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/prevailed