CONFIDENTIAL
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scorn on opposition views. They had cudgelled those who suggested a 30-year transitional period and continuity of the three-legged relationship. They were trying to suppress freedom of speech. If China displayed such a totalitarian attitude in HK which was still under British rule, how could local residents have faith in assurances given by China, the paper asked?
The Financial Daily said it was jumping the gun by drawing up proposals on HK's future and asking local residents to discuss them within that framework. The wishes of HK people could be sounded out only if the 1997 question was open to discussion without limitations. On Britain's position in the talks, the Express said the British had already made concrete proposals. They were implicitly contained in Mrs. Thatcher's assertion during her last visit to HK that the three treaties could be varied but not abrogated. This suggested that Britain would forsake sovereignty for continuing administrative control. It described as impractical China's attitude towards HK's prospects. The formal restoration of sovereignty over HK would already have fulfilled China's mission in history. It would respect the wishes of most local residents and be pragmatic to entrust HK to Britain for a certain period. In so doing China would not forsake nationalism.
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PEOPLE'S DAILY EDITORIAL REFUTED:
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A Sing Tao Wan Pao commentary on 19 January refuted a People's Daily editorial on 14 January which said Mrs. Thatcher visiting the Falklands as a victor would be viewed as calculated provocation. The editorial had said some politicians in Britain tended to do things with 19th century methods. Such an attitude lost track of time and was a tragedy. In the face of the downfall of colonialism, countries like Britain would have a future only if they were willing to establish friendships with third world countries which were conscious of nationalism. Disagreeing with this editorial, the Sing Tao commentary said the leading article was implicitly referring to the HK question. The writer had either been, or pretended to be, ignorant of the real purposes of Mrs. Thatcher's visit. Britain was a highly democratic country. The majority of British people were not proud of colonialism, nor had Mrs. Thatcher aimed to show off the glory of colonialism in her trip. Her visit was to reaffirm two principles: (1) disputes between nations should be solved by negotiations and not by military might; and (2) the wishes of local residents should be respected. These two principles should also apply in solving the HK issue.
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OTHER ITEMS
BBC report: A BBC report relayed by Radio 3 on 23 January said China had put forward a proposal on HK's future to Britain and was now awaiting a response. The proposal was probably to convert the territory into some kind of Special Economic Zone flying the Chinese flag. HK would retain its capitalist system and have autonomy in everything except foreign affairs. The report said the proposal might sound illogical, but Britain and China seemed to be very good at making such arrangements. It was reported that the talks would resume in Beijing after Lunar New Year.
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