TNAG-1245-FCO40-1559-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 71

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Media Summary on Hong Kong's Future

Period: April 12 - April 18, 1983

INTRODUCTION:

It has been a lively week, with Hong Kong featuring in a House of Commons debate; the Association of Local Police Inspectors seeking the views of its members on whether they wished the Association to represent them in future negotiations on the right of abode in the UK; and the return of a group of academics from China with the news that the Chinese planned a "mini-constitution" for HK.

There was a report in a UK magazine that China Light & Power had told the Chinese it could not provide more than 10 pc of the equity for the Guangdong N-power plant. Lord Cockfield told the press before departure that the N-plant and South China Sea oil exploration would bring many new opportunities to HK.

A Guangzhou paper praised the way HK consulted the public before introducing financial laws. Another Chinese paper, the Fujian Daily, said Britain had contributed little to HK's prosperity.

Xinhua reported that a Chinese entrepreneur, Mr. Wang Guangyang, aged 64, brother-in-law of the late President, Liu Xiaoqi, had set up a private company in HK with the aim of promoting China's economic development and working for the prosperity of HK.

Russell Spurr told a radio talkshow that the outcome of the 1997 talks would only contain the terms of a handover.

The Financial Daily speculated that the Beijing diplomatic talks would not resume.

before June.

ITEMS:

1.

ACADEMICS AND CHINA VISIT:

A group of HKU, CU and Polytechnic lecturers returned to HK on 12 April following a 10-day visit to China. On his return, HKU lecturer, Dr. John Young, told the Press that HK would have its own constitution when sovereignty reverted to China in 1997. He said Mr. Liao Chengzhi told them an all-local group would be formed to work on such a "mini-constitution". He said Chinese officials defined HK residents as those who had lived here for seven years or more, accepted that HK was part of China and that the Beijing Government was the only legitimate Chinese Government. He said Mr. Liao refused to disclose any information on the Sino-British talks.

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