TNAG-1249-FCO40-1563-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 17

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4. THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL (INDEPENDENT) PUBLISHED THE FIRST OF TWO EDITORIALS SPECULATING ON THE LIKELY BRITISH REACTION TO A UNILATERAL ANNOUNCEMENT BY CHINA IN SEPTEMBER 1984 OF ITS INTENTIONS TOWARDS HONG KONG. THE EDITORIAL WAS RATHER FAR FETCHED, SUGGESTING THAT BRUTAMIN WOULD IGNORE ANY SUCH ANNOUNCEMENT, PROCEED WITH ALL VIABLE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS WHILST RETAINING SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO CONSTITUTE A RETIREMENT FUND FOR HONG KONG CIVIL SERVANTS. THE

EDITORIAL ALSO SUGGESTED THAT IN 1997 BRITAIN WOULD SEEK TO RETAIN

ITS AUTHORITY OVER THE CEDED TERRITORY WHILST HANDING BACK THE

LEASED TERRITORY.

5. THE TA KUNG PAO ENGLISH-LANGUAGE WEEKLY SUPPLEMENT CARRIED AN

ACCOUNT OF A DRAFT LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER WHICH HONG KONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HAD APPARENTLY PREPARED IN RESPONSE TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY TO THE LETTER SHE RECEIVED IN THE NAME OF ALL HONG KONG STUDENTS' UNNONS. THE DRAFT APPARENTLY CRITICISES THE ABSENCE OF AN ELECTORAL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG, URGES THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT BOTH TO PROMOTE DEMOCRATISATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TO LISTEN TO A WIDER RANGE OF VIEWS IN HONG KONG. THE STUDENTS ARE SOL ICHTHING THEIR MEMBERS' APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

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HD/HKD

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COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)

SIR PHILIP MOORE BUCKINGHAM PALACE PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND

ED/PLANNING STAFF

FD/PUSD

D/HD/PUSD(MR FLOWER)

RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/R LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

MR WRIGHT

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INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:

(VIA ADR)

NEWS DEPT

MR ROBERTS

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ME BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR A PARSONS

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MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF

MR GOODALL

MR

BRENNAN

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CABINET OFFICE

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