TNAG-1247-FCO40-1561-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 58

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4. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A SPATE OF SPECULATIVE COMMENT ABOUT THE POSSIBLE EFFECT ON HONG KONG AND THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FUTURE

OF THE U.K. GENERAL ELECTION. IN THE LIGHT OF THE PUBLICATION OF

THE LABOUR PARTY MANIFESTO, MOST COMMENTATORS HAVE CONCLUDED THAT

A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO RESULT IN A MAJOR CHANGE OF APPROACH TO THE NEGOTIATIONS

ON THE FUTURE.

5. THE COMMUNIST PRESS HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY QUIET. A WEN WEI PO

COMMENTARY ON 10 MAY SAID THAT THE INTEREST OF COMPATRIOTS IN THE

TERRITORIES TO BE RETURNED WOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT TO MAKE THEM

REALISE THAT THEY WERE THE SAME AS THE INTERESTS OF 1 BILLION

PEOPLE ON THE MAINLAND. A FURTHER COMMENTARY IN THE WEN WEI PO ON

13 MAY DESCRIBED PEKING'S POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG IN THE NOW STANDARD 16 CHARACTER PHRASE (RECOVER SOVEREIGNTY, PRESERVE THE SYSTEMS, HAVE HONG KONG PEOPLE RUN HONG KONG, PRESERVE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY) AND SAID THAT THIS HAD BEEN A CONSISTENT POLICY. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD FOREVER PUT BEHIND IT THE WAVERING AND INCONSISTENCIES OF THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION. UNDERTAKINGS MADE NOW WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY A CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

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