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The Express ridiculed the academics for subscribing to China's proposition of "HK people administering HK". Such an attitude would deal a blow to HK's economic recovery. The Kung Sheung Daily News said China was attempting to create in the minds of influential prominent local figures the illusion that sovereignty over HK was now
in their hands.
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LIA MEMBERS SEEKING UK CITIZENSHIP:
The Local Inspectors' Association, which represents 90 per cent of the Police Inspectorate, is conducting a survey with a view to seeking the right of abode for its members in the UK. A questionaire, together with a letter, was sent to its 1 000 members asking them whether they wished the Association to represent them in the future negotiations on right of abode in UK. Respondents were also asked whether they had served in the Special Branch, when they would reach the retirement age of 50 and the size of their families. It was reported that the British Nationality Act included a provision for "loyal" civil servants of dependent territories to be considered for British citizenship. A Reuters despatch quoted a spokesman of the Association as saying it planned to petition the Home Secretary over the right of abode. This story received extensive coverage in the Chinese-language media.
Later, the chairman of the Association, Chief Inspector Li Shu-fung, issued a statement to deny the Reuters report. The statement said the Association had issued a letter to its members seeking their views on whether the Commissioner of Police's advice should be sought over the issue. There was no mention that the Association would petition the Home Secretary.
Leaders of several civil servants' associations described the move as unwise and premature panic; they had no similar plans to seek British citizenship for their members. In an interview with Sing Pao, several local inspectors said they were shocked by such a move which could erode public confidence. Adverse comment also came from other quarters. Legislative Councillor, Miss Maria Tam, said it would deal a blow to the morale of other civil servants. Dr. Joseph Cheng of CU said civil servants who had no confidence in HK's future, and who wished to leave the territory, should resign. It would be unfair to the majority of people here, should civil servants alone be given UK citizenship.
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REDUCED INTEREST IN N-PLANT:
China Light has told the Chinese that it could not provide more than 10 pc of the equity for the Guangdong nuclear power plant joint venture, a big drop from the 40 pc originally envisaged, the monthly "Nuclear Engineering International” in Britain reported. The Chinese now sensed that China Light was deliberately dragging its feet over the signing of an agreement to purchase electricity and were investigating alternative ways of financing the project. One possibility, said the magazine, was to sell power for
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