TNAG-1249-FCO40-1563-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 32

3. MOST INDEPENDENT AND CHINESE LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED

SNIPPETS OF INFORMATION GLEANED FROM THE DELEGATHON. THE EXPRESS

(RIGHT WING) QUOTED ONE MEMBER AS SAYING THAT HE HAD GAINED THE

HIMPRESSION THAT CHINA WOULD NOT ALLOW BRITISH PARTICIPATION MA

HONG KONG AFFAIRS AFTER 1997. ANOTHER MEMBER WAS REPORTED MN MING

PAO (INDEPENDENT) AS SAY:ING THAT ACCORDING TO MR. Lik HAO OF THE

HONG KONG AND MACAU OFFICE, BRITISH OFFICIALS WOULD BE ABLE TO REMAIN

HN HONG KONG AFTER 1997 IN THEIR PRIVATE CAPACITY AND AS ADVISORS.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE LOYAL TO THE SAR AND NOT TO THE BRITISH

GOVERNMENT.

4. EDITORIALS IN THE FINANCIAL DAILY (INDEPENDENT) AND THE EXPRESS

(RIGHT WING) AS WELL AS A COLUMNIST IN THE ORIENTAL DAILY (INDEPENDENT) ALL CAST DOUBTS ON THE VALIDITY OF CHINESE GUARANTEES

THAT HONG KONG'S WAY OF LIFE WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR 50 YEARS.

THE EXPRESS SUGGESTED THAT THE SELF-RULE FORMULA WAS LITTLE MORE THAN

AN DEVICE TO ENABLE CHINA TO GET HITS HANDS ON HONG KONG. THE ORIENTAL DAILY COLUMNIST SAID THAT THE MAJORITY OF HONG KONG PEOPLE WISHED TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO BECAUSE BRITAIN COULD PROVIDE HONG KONG WITH GENUINE SELF-RULE WITHOUT HINTERFERENCE, AND HONG KONG

PEOPLE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT CHINA WOULD DO THE SAME.

5. THE LATEST EDITION OF THE FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW PUBLISHED A SPECULATIVE ARTICLE BY TERESA MA ASSERTING (WITHOUT CALIMING ANY SOURCES) THAT BRITAN HAD SOFTENED HITS INITIAL POSITION THAT A FORMAL ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE FOR BRITAIN POST 1997 WOULD BE NECESSARY IF STABILITY AND PROSPERITY WERE TO BE MAINTAINED. UNOFFICIALS ON EXCO, WHO HAD PRESSED BRITAIN HARD NOT TO MAKE CONCESSIONS, MIGHT NOW BE RECONSIDERING THEIR APPROACH. THE TWO SIDES HAD NOW AGREED TO COOPERATE IN DRAWING UP SCHEMES TO

STABILIZE HONG KONG UP TO 1997.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

CH/CH

ED/FED

ED/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

D/HD/PUSD(MR FLOWER)

RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PSAR LUCE

PS/PUS

STR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD MR WRIGHT

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

INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:

(VIA ADR)

NEWS DEPT

MR ROBERTS

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

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF

CABINET OFFICE CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODALL MRBRENNAN .....

11

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

RS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

RESTRICTEDS/AT