TNAG-1245-FCO40-1559-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 88

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In a second leader, the paper, together with the HK Times, ridiculed China for adopting a double standard over the sovereignty issues of the Senkaku Islands and HK. The two papers said Beijing contradicted itself by sweeping under the carpet the sovereignty dispute over the Senkaku Islands, while at the same time insisting that China's sovereignty over HK was not negotiable.

The HK Daily News said the fact that the Chinese, British and Hong Kong Governments were sounding out the public on the 1997 issue demonstrated that London and Beijing were sincere in seeking a satisfactory solution to the lease issue. Some politicans in Britain were attacking the Prime Minister, Mrs. Thatcher, but their motives were to undermine the ruling Conservative Party.

The left-wing Ching Po said more foreign and local investors were showing interest in investing in China. This showed that people were no longer worried about the uncertain political situation in China.

Commenting on Dr. Rayson Huang's recent appeal to HKU graduates to stay in HK, an Express columnist said that while Dr. Huang, who enjoyed a high status, might have a future here, his students, who were in pursuit of freedom, could not put their hearts at

ease.

8.

ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PRESS:

New head of Xinhua in HK: On 28 April the SCMP picked up the story that Mr. Xu Jiatun, former Governor of Jiangsu Province, was to succeed Mr. Wang Kuang as head of Xinhua in HK. The Post, which made the story its front-page lead, ran the heading: "China picks top official for HK job", with the sub-heading: "Concern shown for 1997 solution." The paper quoted “reliable sources" and said Mr. Xu was the most senior man yet to hold the job. The SCMP linked the story to the arrival of Mr. Wang Kuangying to set up Everbright Industrial Corporation, "a huge international corporation", and said this was significant, indicating that China was serious about finding a solution to the future of HK. The paper also revealed that Mr. Li Shuwen, head of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office in Shanghai, would assist Mr. Xu, adding that the agency had neither confirmed nor denied the two appointments.

Everbright: The SCMP Business News on 27 April had a short item about Mr. Wang Guangying arriving in HK to set up Everbright, China's first private corporation here; the company would concentrate on importing technology needed by China, but Mr. Wang declined to give details. Nor would he discuss his financial backers or the corporation's capital investment. Everbright was reported to have asked former US Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger, to act as a consultant. The Asian Wall Street Journal of the same date said Everbright was being established as a world-wide corporation with Chinese citizens as shareholders. The Journal said Mr. Wang planned to make the HK-based enterprise a "super-corporation" with world-wide branches that traded and formed joint ventures with foreign companies.

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