TNAG-1249-FCO40-1563-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 121

GRS 1150

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DESBKY 0609452 OCT 83

FROM PEKING 06085OZ OCT 83

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TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 991 OF 6/10/83

REPEATED FOR INFO TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

DOL

MKK040/2

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY -7 OCT 1983

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

Sea

FUTURE OF HONG KONG:

REMARKS

PEOPLE'S DAILY COMMENTATOR ON MR LUCE'S

250

CM24/10/255

256

t t

1. PEOPLE'S DAILY OF 6 OCTOBER CARRIES AN ARTICLE ON PAGE 2 BY

A ''COMMENTATOR OF THE PAPER ENTITLED "COME OFF IT MR LUCE

IT IS LENGTHY AND SEVERE IN TONE. COMMENT IS IN MIFT. A SUMMARY OF THE PIECE FOLLOWS.

2. THE ARTICLE STATES THAT ON 28 SEPTEMBER MR LUCE ATACKED

·

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOR OPENLY CRITICISING THE BRITISH POSITION

IN THE TALKS. HE THREATENED TURBULENCE IF THE TALKS DID NOT REACH

A SATISFACTORY OUTCOME. ALL CONCERNED WITH HONG KONG'S FUTURE WOULD CONSIDER THAT SUCH EXTRAORDINARY REMARKS WOULD BE OF NO HELP IN FINDING A RATIONAL SOLUTION.

3. IT WAS PUTTING THE BLAME ON OTHERS AND MISLEADING THE PUBLIC TO ACCUSE THE CHINESE OF BREACHING CONFIDENTIALITY. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD NEVER PUBLICLY SPOKEN OF THE PROGRESS OF THE TALKS OR THEIR AGENDA. EVERYONE KNEW CHINA'S BASIC POSITION CONCERNING THE RESUMPTION OF SOVEREIGNTY AND ADMIN- ISTRATION IN HONG KONG. THERE WAS NO SECRET ABOUT IT. THE

CHINESE HAD THE RIGHT TO MAKE IT KNOWN TO THEIR PEOPLE., INCLUD-

ING THOSE IN HONG KONG. THE BRITISH SIDE, MR LUCE HIMSELF INCLUDED, HAD TIME AND AGAIN ANNOUNCED THEIR ''AIM", IE THE IR POSITION,

IN THE TALKS. WHAT KIND OF LOGIC WAS IT THAT ALLOWED THE

BRITISH TO STATE THEIR POSITION WHILE THE CHINPSE COULD NOT?

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