TNAG-1247-FCO40-1561-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 57

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CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

TELEGRAM NUMBER 679 OF 13 MAY

TOP COPY

MISKO. 40

KESOVER MISSVAVATUL 51 13 MAY 1983

FM HONG KONG 131005Z MAY 83

TO PRIORITY FCO

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS COVERAGE: MY TELNO 642

INDEX

DESK

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THE ANNOUCEMENT OF THE APPOINTMENTS TO THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE OFTHE CPPCC REPORTED IN MY TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE HAS TRIGGERED OFF SOME COMMENT. THE (INDEPENDENT) HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY PROMINENT. IN AN EDITORIAL ON 11 MAY, THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL NOTED THAT THE CPPCC WAS ESSENTIALLY A UNITED FRONT PROPAGANDA ORGANISATION AND THAT CPPCC MEMBERS HAD THE RIGHT TO ATTEND BUT NOT (NOT) TO SPEAK AT THE NPC. THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVES WOULD SPEAK UP FOR HONG KONG. ALTHOUGH THEY WERE IN A POSITION TO REPRESENT ALL HONG KONG PEOPLE, THEY HAD A DUTY TO MAKE THE CHINESE LEADERS REALISE WHAT MADE HONG KONG TICK. THEIR APPOINTMENTS INDICATED THAT THEY WERE POLITICALLY ACCEPTABLE TO CHINA: IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THEY WOULD EARN THE

RESPECT OF HONG KONG PEOPLE.

2. IN A FURTHER EDITORIAL ON 12 MAY, THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL SPECULATED THAT SERVING MEMBERS OF LEGCO OR EXCO MIGHT BE INVITED TO BECOME CPPCC DELEGATES. THE EDITORIAL WONDERED HOW PEOPLE WHO HAD TAKEN AN OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE QUEEN OR WHO HAD BECOME BRITISH SUBJECTS BY NATURALISATION, COULD PLEDGE LOYALTY TO ANOTHER COUNTRY OR POLITICAL PARTY WITHOUT PUBLICLY RESCINDING THEIR OATH. ON 13 MAY, THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL EDITORIAL URGED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO ADOPT MEASURES TO STABILISE CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG BY, FOR EXAMPLE, KEEPING UP THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME. IT ALSO URGED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO LOBBY HMG FURTHER ABOUT THE DAMAGING EFFECT ON HONG KONG OF THE NATIONALITY ACT. IN A FURTHER REFERENCE TO THE CPPCC, THE EDITORIAL SUGGESTED THAT LEGISLATION SHOULD BE INTRODUCTED WHICH WOULD DEBAR MEMBERS OF LEGCO AND EXCO WHO HAD TAKEN AN OATH OF ALLEGIANCE FROM ACCEPTING APPOINTMENTS FROM OTHER GOVERNMENTS. IT ALSO WONDERED WHETHER ANY OF THE NEWLY CHOSEN DELEGATES TO THE CPPCC MIGHT BE IN THE NEXT QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST.

3. THE RIGHT-WING EXPRESS ON 13 MAY ALSO PUBLISED AN EDITORIAL CRITICAL OF THOSE WHO HAD ACCEPTED THESE APPOINTMENTS. IT ACCUSED THEM OF JUMPING ON THE BAND-WAGON AND SEEKING TO INGRATIATE THEMSELVES WITH THE CHINESE FOR THE PURPOSES OF ACHIEVING

POLITICAL POWER IN THE FUTURE.

ANETRY

ck Taken”

Cirls

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