TNAG-1248-FCO40-1562-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 6

RESTRICTED

4. THE COMMUNIST PRESS HAVE MAINTAINED THE RHYTHM OF HOSTILE EDITORIALS. THE NEW EVENING POST EDITORIAL ON 30 AUGUST CRITICISED

THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRAION'S REMARKS AT

THE HONG KONG WEEK SEMINAR. THE EDITORIAL SAID THAT THE EFFECTIVE OFPERATION OF HONG KONG'S ADMINISTRATION WAS NOT MN THE LEAST DEPENDENT ON ADMINISTRATIVE THES WITH BRITAIN. MR. AKERS-JONES, HAD, HOWEVER, FORGOTTEN TO MENTION THAT THE GOVERNOR TOOK AN OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE QUEEN BEFORE ASSUMING HIS OFFICE. BT WAS THEREFORE CLEAR WHERE THE GOVERNOR'S ALLEGIANCE LAY. THE GREATEST STUMBLING BLOCK TO OPEN GOVERNMENT WAS THE OUT-DATED COLONNAL SYSTEM AND BRITAIN'S ''REMOTE CONTROL'' MUST BE SHAKEN OFF. THE WEN WE: PO EDITORIAL ON 31 AUGUST AGAIN ATTACKED THE REMARKS BY TWO VISITING LABOUR MP'SN, DORMAND AND CALLAGHAN ABOUT THE TREATIES. SUCH REMARKS ONLY REVEALED A COLONIAL NATURE AND IGNORANCE OF REALITY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT FOR THE VALIDITY OF THE THREE TREATIES IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS OR OTHER EXPRESSIONS OF PUBLIC OPINION. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG BELIEVED THAT SOVEREIGNTY RIGHTLY BELONGED TO

CHINA AND THEIR WORRIES WERE ABOUT HOW TO MAINTAIN PROSPERITY AND STABILITY TO THE TRANSITION PERHOD TO THE RECOVERY OF SOVEREIGNTY BY CHINA.

HADDON-CAVE

(REPEATED AS REQUESTED)

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

120:MMMEND

COPIES TO:

THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT

ADVANCED

ED/EKD

SIR I SINCLAIR

FED

MR BURROWS

ED/PLANNING STAFF

MR MARTIN

ED/PUSD

PS

MR FLOWER

PS/LADY YOUNG

MR. COLES

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

MR WRIGHT

LEGAL ADVISER LEGAL ADVISERS ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE

PUSD

NO 10 DOWNING ST

STR A PARSONS

11

1

MR WALKER. RESEARCH DEPT

MR ROBERTS

NEWS D

GOGGS

J

RESTRICTED