TNAG-1242-FCO40-1555-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 154

VMV

DWF G 006

R. 19/02.514

571

LDX 115

2.

LIM 171/19

PEKING TL

GRS 200

RESTRICTED

MKK040/2

(208

HKK 040||

RECEIVED IN MEGISTRY

1. JEP 1903

TELELETTER

FROM T W M SMITH, PEKING

DESK OFFICER NORA

PA

NFR

19TH SEPT 83

19/4

RED Pas. Dest Mati, Ass. Stuff

REGISTRY

Action faken

1 CH2019

04871

of Tala

FOLLOWING FOR P 1 WEBB ESQ, ASSISTANT POLITICAL ADVISER,

HONG KONG V

COPIED TO: W MORRIS ESQ,(HKD,FCO

XU JIATUN'S VISHT TO THE NEW TERRITORIES

1. HONG KONTG TELNO 1350 OF 14 SEPTEMBER REPORTED PRESS COVERAGE AND COMMENT IN HONG KONG ON XU'S VISIT TO THE NEW TERRITORIES. THE VISIT WAS THE SUBJECT OF A SHORT PIECE ON PAGE 4 OF THE PEOPLE'S DAILY OF 15 SEPTEMBER. IT REPORTED XU AS SAYING THAT HONG KONG IS ALREADY IN A NEW PERIOD, LEADING UP TO 1997: THAT THOSE WHO SUPPORTED THE REUNIFICATION OF THE MOTHERLAND WERE PATRIOTS: AND THAT ALL PATRIOT, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR BACKGROUNDS, SHOULD SET ASIDE THEIR DIFFERENCES AND UNITE.

2. IT ALSO REPORTED XU'S WARM RECEPTION AT A NEW TERRITORIES VILLAGE, AND THE ALLEGED JOY OF TWO OF THE VILLAGERS AT HEARING THE NEWS THAT HONG KONG WAS TO RETURN TO THE MOTHERLAND IN 1997. EVERYONE LONGED FOR THE DAY.

3. PEOPLE'S DAILY OF THE PREVIOUS DAY (14 SEPTEMBER) HAD REPORTED, IN FACTUAL TERMS SIMILAR TO THIS ARTICLE, XU'S MEETING WITH A NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN HONG KONG.

SIGNED...T SMITH.

!

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