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and promotion and were now much better off. The third gave a vivid description of how young Chinese people donned fashionable clothes similar to those of their HK counterparts when picnicking in groups. The fourth was an interview with a HK worker who claimed that he saw many peasants in his home village build new houses. The income of a peasant family, on average, had risen 30 per cent in the past two years.
In the conclusion of a three-part article in Ta Kung Pao, apparently aimed at allaying people's fear of the self-rule option, the writer claimed many HK residents who worked in Beijing offices of local and foreign firms did not lack healthy recreational outlets in their leisure time. Though there were no discotheques or fish-ball stalls, HK workers there were captivated by the country and the beautiful scenery. Some even said they would find the lifestyle in HK more difficult to accept if they returned here. Though these people might not be ready to give their lives for their motherland, they had a fervent love for their country. HK people did have a sense of belonging: it was China to which they belonged whatever changes might lie in store for HK.
In another article, the writer dissuaded HK people from emigrating, claiming that one of his friends and his family migrated from China to the US six years ago and they were still living a hand to mouth existence in the Chinatown of San Francisco. He foresaw that HK people would continue to play the role of bridging the gap between East and West, whatever changes might come.
In Wen Wei Po, a columnist in a three-part reply to a reader purportedly enquiring about HK's future repeated China's principles in resolving the 1997 question and expressed confidence that the differences between Britain and China were reconcilable. He said it was up to the people of HK to decide what would become of it in the run-up to 1997, the majority should take vigorous action to ensure prosperity and make preparations for self-rule. He envisaged a settlement would usher in "a new era" in the history of HK. The paper also reprinted excerpts from a reader's letter in the HK Economic Journal which said HK would have to lean to China economically to maintain its prosperity. This propaganda gimmick came to a halt on 24 February, when the left-wing press, just like other local news organisations, focused their attention on the Budget. The two major left-wing papers resumed their propaganda on Saturday by publishing six similar articles over the weekend and on Monday. Four praised the polite and efficient manner of service workers in Guangzhou, especially those engaged in the transport field. Another article reported on the higher living standard now enjoyed by a friend of the writer in Beijing. The last mentioned two brothers who had set up a similar cottage industry in Fujian and competed with each other to make their business a success.
On the Budget, unlike major independent papers which generally felt that the tax increase proposals, apart from the rates rise, were acceptable, all three principal left-wing papers, Wen Wei Po, Ta Kung Pao and New Evening Post, commented editorially that the tax rises were too drastic and would not enhance HK's prosperity and stability. Wen Wei said the five-fold airport tax increase was too high for passengers on short trips to Guangzhou. Residents, particularly low-income families, would feel the pinch of rises in licence fees and diesel prices as public transport fares were bound to go up. It urged the Government to adopt measures to assist industry and to boost exports. Ta Kung blamed
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