TNAG-1246-FCO40-1560-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 44

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papers did not dispute China's sovereignty claim their views varied on whether China could maintain HK's prosperity on regaining sovereignty and none endorsed the self-rule proposition.

Several papers reported Liao Chengzhi's comment at the opening of the White Swan hotel in Guangzhou that he had no more to say on the Hong Kong question. Sing Tao Jih Pao said he had learnt caution.

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PRESS LINES:

Propaganda of left-wing papers: The left-wing press continued to try to discredit Britain's role in HK and pour scorn on independent papers' remarks on HK's future. The two principal left-wing papers, Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po, published in full the article by Ding Mingnan of China's Academy of Social Sciences on how HK was ceded.

The week began with the New Evening Post strongly rebutting an SCMP editorial which had said the three-legged table analogy had been misinterpreted to mean a troika. The paper contended that criticism of the analogy was prompted by the fact that someone wanted to use the three-legged table relationship to extend British rule here after 1997. Britain and China entered into the diplomatic talks on the basis that the negotiations would only involve the two countries. Hence there was no room for tripartite relationship. The SCMP reported the rebuttal.

In another editorial on 4 February, the paper said, by way of explanation, the article by Ding Mingnan on how HK was ceded was meant only to relate history clearly and not settle the score with Britain or seek compensation. The British people now were surely not responsible for the acts of imperialist invasion a century ago. China had to repeat its stance towards the unequal treaties so that the British people and Government would learn a good lesson of history and agree to abrogating the treaties and recognising China's sovereignty over HK. Talks on the HK issue must take into account history. The paper also quoted NPC Vice-chairman, Mr. Peng Zhen, saying history and reality must be respected and hopes pinned on the future. If this was taken as the three-legged stool, the problem could be solved easily.

On 1 February, a Wen Wei Po commentary criticised some British politicians for trying to use foreign exchange earnings to blackmail China on the sovereignty question. It described such a tactic as “kids' stuff" and proved that the politicians were arrogant and ignorant about China's determination and power to recover HK. Before China adopted its open policy HK was probably China's only trade outlet. But since the late 70's virtually every Chinese sea port had been capable of handling external trade. Also, on the same day, a Wen Wei Po columnist blamed the so-called colonial education system for the youth problem in HK and the non-interventionist trade policy for the economic slump. He claimed that, at a meeting with Mr. Denis Bray two years ago, the Secretary for Home Affairs disagreed with him that the gap between rich and the poor might cause social unrest;

the property sector had become over-inflated; and industry without support would face difficulties during a recession. In the intervening period, the Christmas rampage in Central in 1981, football fans' disturbances and the current economic slump had proved that he was right in his foresight.

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