TNAG-1248-FCO40-1562-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 178

CONFIDENTIAL

4. A COMMENTARY IN THE TAO KUNG PAO ON 23 JUNE REVIVED IN FAIRLY MILD TERMS A THEME PREVALENT IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE CHINESE PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN. UNDER THE HEADING WHAT SORT OF STATUS QUO SHOULD BE PRESERVED THE COMMENTARY SAID THAT IF PRESERVING THE STATUS QUO MEANT PRESERVING HONG KONG'S LIBERAL ECONOMIC POLICIES THEN NO ONE COULD OBJECT. HOWEVER, IF THIS MEANT PRESERVING A LOSS OF SOVEREIGNTY, NATIONAL DISGRACE, AND AN AFFRONT TO CHINA'S SELF-RESPECT AND THE INTERESTS OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE, NO ONE COULD AGREE.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

IMIMIJUEND

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

MR ROBERTS

HD/PUSD

PS

MR MARTIN

PS/LADY YOUNG

THIS TELEGRAM

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

WAS NOT ADVANCED

MR FLOWER

SIR J BUILLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

MR WRIGHT

COPIES TO

SIR I SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER

MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS

ASSESSMENTS STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

PUSD

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING STREET

SIR A PARSONS

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NEWS D

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