TNAG-1250-FCO40-1564-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 23

5. THE MING PUO (INDEPENDENT) IN ITS EDITORIAL SAID THAT HONG KONG 'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY WOULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED IF THE CHINESE UNILATERAL ANNOUNCEMENT NEXT SEPTEMBER DID NOT MAET WITH THE WISHES OF HONG KONG PEOPLE. UNLESS NEW ARRANGEMENTS COULD GUARANTEENTHAT THE EXISTING SOCIETY AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURE AND THE PRESENT LIFESTYLA WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED, CHINA'U PLANS FOR HONG KONG WOULD FAIL. CN ADDITION TO THE FINANCIAL LOSS TO CHINA, THE CHUNCES OF REUNIFICATION WITH TAIWAN WOULD BE GREATLY REDUCED.

6. THE FINANCIAL DAILY (INDEPENDENT) IN ITS EDITORIAL SAID THAT THE MINI-CONSTITUTION MUST ENSURE A PROPER SYSTEM OF CHECK AND BALANCES IN THE LAW SO THAT THE INTERESTS OF ALL PARTIES AND OF ALL SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST IN ITS EDITORIAL SAID THAT THE HONG KONG OBSERVERS DID NOT CLAIM TO REPRESENT ALL HONG KONG PEOPLE, BUT THEIR OPINIONS MERITED CAREFUL ATTENTION. THEY WERE A GROUP OF PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE, WELP EDUCATED, ARTICULATE AND ABLE, WITH THEIR ROOTS DEEP IN HONG KONG. THEY WERE REPRESENTUTIVE OF AN IMPORTANT SECTION OF MONG KONG PEOPLE WHO PLANNED TO STAY IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997 WHATEVER HAPPENED. THE EDITORIAL SAID THAT CHINA SHOULD LISTEN TO AND ACCOMMODATE THE VIEWS OF PEOPLE WHO DID NOT NECESSARILY SAY WHAT THE CHINESE LEADERS WUNTED TO HEAR.

7. THE TWO MAJOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILYSNTWO MINOR PRO-CHINA PAPERS AND ONE OR TWO INDEPENDENT PAPERS REPORTED REMARKS BY A PRO- CHINA LAWYER, MISS DOROTHY LIU, SUGGESTING THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD HIRE OVERSEAS LEGAL EXPOERTS TO DRAFT THE FUTURE CONSTITUTION FOR HONG KONG. BRITISH COMPANIES IN HONG KONG MIGHT PAY THE COST

OF HIRING THESE EXPERTS.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

TARKIWAND

COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF SE COUNCIL

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND

ED/PLANNING STAFF

ED/FED

ED/PUSD

D/ED/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

SIR C TICKELL

2

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

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

RESTRICTED

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