TNAG-1249-FCO40-1563-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 74

4. THE MING PAO (INDEPENDENT) AND THE KUNG SHEUNG DALY (PRO TAIWAN) BOTH PUBLISHED EDITOR:ALS CRITICAL OF MR. ROBERT ADLEY, MP.

THE MING PAO SAID THAT HE DID NOT HAVE ANY DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF HONG KONG. MR. ADLEY'S CLAIM THAT TAWAN AGENTS IN HONG KONG WERE SEEKING TO FRUSTRATE THE TALKS HAD ENTHER COME FROM EXCLUSIVE SOURCES OR FROM AN OVER-WORKED MAGNATHON. EVEN THE LEFT-WING PRESS HAD NOT SUGGESTED ANY SUCH THING.THE KUNG SHEUNG DANLY EDITORIAL REFERRED TO MR. ADLEY'S CLAIM THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE MIN HONG KONG ACCEPTED THAT SOVEREIGNTY SHOULD RETURN TO CHINA. THIS INFORMATION MUST HAVE COME FROM PEKING OFFICIALS OR FROM NCNA. WAS MR. ADLEY NOT AWARE THAT THE *** LOVE FREE HONG KONG'' CAMPAIGN HAD GATHERED OVER 60,000 SIGNATURES AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A SLUMP IN STOCK AND PROPERTY MARKETS.

5. THE NEW EVENING POST (COMMUNIST) HAS PUBLISHED A FURTHER CONTRA:BUTHON TO ITS REGULAR COLUMN PUCKING UP THE THEM REPORTED *N PARA 5 OF MY TELNO 1648. ELABORATONG ON WHAT IT DESCRIBED AS BRITAIN'S ''ROBBERS LOGIC'', THE ARTICLE SAID THAT BRITAHIN SOUGHT ON THE SURFACE TO FULFIL NTS ''MORAL OBL CATHON'' TO HONG KONG BY STATHING THAT #TS PURPOSE WAS TO FIND A SETTLEMENT ACCEPTABLE TO BRITAIN, CHINA AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. BUT AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE BRH TAMN HAD BEEN INSISTING ON RETAINING SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG. MF LH JUSHENG (SECOND DIRECTOR OF NCNA, HK AND A MEMBER OF THE CHINESE NEGOTIATING TEAM) HAD NOT DH:SCLOSED THAT SOVEREIGNTY HAD BEEN DISCUSSED DURING EACH ROUND OF THE TALKS, THE PEOPLE WOULD STILL HMAGINE THAT BRITAIN WAS FIGHTHING FOR HONG KONG EPOPLE'S INTERESTS.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

ED/FEND

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

HD/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

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

MR WRIGHT

RESTRICTED

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

MR GOODALL

MR BRENNAN

CABINET OFFICE CABINET OFFICE

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PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

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