TNAG-1249-FCO40-1563-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 88

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FM HONG KONG 25074OZ OCT 83

TO IMMEDIATE FOOC 1595

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TELEGRAM NUMBER H

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OF 25 OCTOBER 1983

679

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MK K040 12

RECEIVED IN ALLISTRY

NEO PRIORITY PEKING AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, NEW

BRUSSELS AND GENEVA

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS COVERAGE.

- 1983

JESK LFICEM

REGISTRY

INDEX

Aduion Take'

AKD

31

THE PRESS REMAIN FAIRLY QUIET WITH LITTLE NEW MATERIAL OR COMMENT.

2. ALL SECTIONS OF THE PRESS CARRIED A REUTERS REPORTS OF REMARKS MADE BY FOREIGN MINISTER WU XUEGIAN IN MUSCAT. WU SAID THAT PEKING WOULD ADOPT A SPECHAL ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY ON HONG KONG AFTER 1997. HE STRESSED THAT HONG KONG WOULD REMAIN AS IT WAS NOW AND THAT QUOTE BRITISH PROPERTY UNQUOTE WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE RE- STORATION OF CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY. WHILST THE REPORT WAS GIVEN PROMINENT COVERAGE THERE WAS NO FURTHER COMMENT IN THE MAJOR COM-

MUNIST NEWSPAPERS.

3. A COLUMNIST #N THE NEW EVENING POST (COMMUNIST) CRITICISED QUOTE SOME PEOPLE UNQUOTE WHO SUPPORTED THE BRITISH POSITION AND USED THEIR FALSE CLAIM TO REPRESENT PUBLIC OPINION AS AN EXCUSE TO TRAVEL TO AND FROM LONDON. BUT THEY WERE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT AS THE REST OF HONG KONG'S POPULATION. AFTER THEY HAD TURNED HONG KONG'S ECONOMY INTO A MESS, THEY WOULD LEAVE FOR GOOD. THEY HAD BEEN SHOUTHING QUOTE DO NOT ROCK THE BOAT UNQUOTE. NOW IT WAS TIME TO SHOUT BACK AT THEM.

4.ONDON-BASED CORRESPONDENTS IN THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS REPORTED THAT MR. ROBERT ADLEY MP'S ADJOURNMENT DEBATE WOULD BE HELD ON 31 OCTOBER. THE SCMP DESCRIBED MR. ADLEY AS A QUOTE BACKBENCH LIGHTWEIGHT UNQUOTE WHO NEVERTHELESS CARRIED SOME INFLUENCE AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ANGLO-CHINESE PARLIAMENTARY

GROUP.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

COPIES TO:

LIMITED

MR ROBERTS

HD/HKD

MR BURROWS

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

D/HD/PUSD(MR FLOWER)

RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

MR WRIGHT

MR MARTIN

MR COLES

NEWS DEPT

LEGAL ADVISER ASSESSMENTS STAFF

CABINET OFFICE NO 10 DOWNING ST

SIR A PARSONS

#1

MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE

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

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

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