(b) because of letter handed there to Acting Governor by students
from HKU's student union. This urged authorities to respect public opinion on Hong Kong's future.
(vii) Australian Foreign Minister's visit to China
Extensive and prominent reporting of Mr Hayden's remark to press in Peking that China's position on Hong Kong's future "encouraging".
(Comment: these remarks were badly received by Hong Kong's Executive
Council. See Hong Kong telno 12 to Canberra).
(viii) Mr Heath's forthcoming visit to Hong Kong
Speculation that Mr Heath might also visit China and have talks
there. Some suggestion that "the sensitive and confidential talks
on Hong Kong would probably be ruled out of his pre-departure briefing.
(ix) Hu Yaobang's remarks to Japanese reporters, 15 August (Hong
Kong telno 1208)
On Hu's remarks that China would recover sovereignty over Hong Kong
on 1 July 1997 and that present talks confined to ways of
maintaining Hong Kong's stability and prosperity:
(a) Communist press thought this pointed up "principle and
flexibility" lacking from Mrs Thatcher's remarks about unequal
treaties in September 1982. This press quoted also;
(b) Hong Kong Union of Chinese Workers in Western Style Employment
urging support for China's recovery of sovereignty and
administration, and said;
(c) confident territory's prosperity could be maintained as China had complete set of policies for this. Hong Kong people should have
faith;
(d) some papers: welcomed Hu's "clarification".
Said Hong Kong
people could now pin hopes on ways devised to maintain prosperity and stability;
(e) predicted China would stand firm on sovereignty issue;
(f) noted this first definite date for China's planned recovery of sovereignty;
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.