TNAG-1248-FCO40-1562-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 56

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4. THE AMENDMENTS TO LEGCO'S STANDING RULES, ANNOUNCED ON 27 JULY, HAVE ALSO ATTRACTED WIDESPREAD PRESS COVERAGE AND SOME EDITORIAL COMMENT. THE MOVES TO ENHANCE THE ROLE OF UNOFFICIALS AND TO MAKE SOME OF FINANCE COMMITTEE'S PROCEEDINGS PUBLIC WERE WELCOMED, AS WAS THE DECISION TO DELETE THE WORD COLONY'' FROM STANDING ORDERS. THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL (INDEPENDENT), COMMENTED THAT BRITAIN WAS PREPARED TO GIVE CHINA FACE WHEREEVER POSSIBLE SO LONG AS ITS ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY IN HONG KONG WAS NOT AFFECTED. THE MING PAO AND THE EXPRESS (BOTH INDEPENDENT) NOTED THAT THE WORD ''COLONY** STILL APPEARED ON HONG KONG'S BANKNOTES. THE MING PAO ALSO SAID THAT THE CHANGES TO STANDING ORDERS FOLLOWED A LONG SERIES OF SIMILAR CHANGES TO OTHER OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. TIN TIN DAILY NEWS (PRO-CHINA) QUOTED AN UNNAMED HONG KONG UNIVERSITY LECTURER AS SAYING THAT LEGCO'S ACTION PAVED THE WAY FOR BRITAIN TO HAND BACK SOVEREIGNTY TO CHINA.

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