TNAG-1247-FCO40-1561-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 95

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FM HONG KONG 219146Z APR 83

TO PRIORITY F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 545 OF 21 APRIL

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

FUTURE OF HONG KONG : PRESS COVERAGE

HKK 040/2 RECEIVED IN REGISTRY MD. 51. 2 1 APR 1983

REGISTRY

Action Talen

THE WEN WEI PO ON 19 APRIL PUBLISHED A COMMENTARY ON THE IDEA THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE ALREADY RUN HONG KONG, WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE WEN WEI PO HAD ACHIEVED SOME CURRENCY IN RECENT DAYS. THE ARTICLE ALSO ATTACKED THE ARGUMENT THAT CHINA'S SELF RULE OPTION

IS IMPRACTICABLE. ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN SOME MOVES TOWARDS LOCALISATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND SOME HONG KONG CHINESE NOW OCCUPIED SENIOR POSITIONS IN THE GOVERNMENT, HONG KONG STILL REMAINED UNDER COLONIAL RULE SINCE THE GOVERNOR WAS APPOINTED BY THE QUEEN AND THE MAJORITY OF SECRETARY POSTS WERE OCCUPIED BY BRITISH PEOPLE. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, BOTH COUNCILS WERE STILL DOMINATED BY BRITISH PEOPLE. IN ADDITION, HONG KONG'S AND BRITAIN'S TRADE INTERESTS WERE NO LONGER IDENTICAL AND IN SUCH MATTERS AS NEGOTIATIONS ON TEXTILES, THE BRITISH GAVE MORE CONSIDERATION TO THEIR INTERESTS THAN TO THOSE OF HONG KONG. CHINA'S PROPOSALS FOR SELF RULE WERE AN IMPORTANT NEW STEP IN THAT THEY WERE PROPOSALS

FOR SELF RULE UNDER CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KÒNG

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