TNAG-1250-FCO40-1564-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 29

4. A REGULAR COLUMNIST IN THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL

(INDEPENDENT) SAID THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT AT ISSUE OVER 1997 WAS NOT DEMOCRACY NOR NATIONALISM NOR THE POWERS OF THE

GOVERNOR, BUT WHETHER HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT AND FREEDOM TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN LIFESTYLE AND DECIDE THEIR OWN

POLITICAL FUTURE. THE COLUMNIST SAID THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO MORE TO CLARIFY THE LARGE NUMBER OF MISLEADING COMMENTS

ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FUTURE. THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

SERVICES SHOCBD ACT AS A COUNTER-UNITED FRONT DEPARTMENT WITH ITS MAIN PRIORITY BEING TO KEEP PUBLIC OPINION IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. IF THE STATUS QUO IN HONG KONG COULD BE MAINTAINED,

LOCAL PEOPLE HAD THE RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT IT AT AN EARLY DATE.

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S INFORMATION SERVICES EFFORTS OVER

THE FUTURE WERE CONTRASTED UNFAVOURABLY WITH THE EFFORTS MADE DURING THE 1967 DISTURBANCES TO COUNTER COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA.

5. THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL IN ITS EDITORIAL SAID THAT THE GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER STATION WOULD BRING MANY BENEFITS TO HONG KONG.

APART FROM GUARANTEEING A SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY TO HONG KONG AND

GUANGDONG AT A REASONABLE PRICE, IT WOULD MEAN THAT CHINA MUST RETAIN THE INTERNATIONAL STATUS AND VALUE OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR IN ORDER TO PAY OFF THE LOANS RAISED FOR THE BUILDING OF THE PLANT. THIS IN TURN MEANT THAT THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM IN HONG KONG

WOULD HAVE TO REMAIN BASICALLY UNCHANGED.

6. THE FINANCIAL DAILY (INDEPENDENT) IN ITS EDITORIAL EXPRESSED DISMAY AT THE RELUCTANCE OF CHINESE OFFICIALS LIKE JI PENGFEI

TO GIVE ANY FIRM INDICATION THAT LOCAL PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO

PARTICIPATE IN THE DRAFTING OF THE MINI CONSTITUTION. THE EDITORIAL WONDERED WHY THE CHINESE WERE SO HESITANT TO ALLOW LOCAL PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN THE DRAWING UP OF A DOCUMENT OF SUCH VITAL IMPORTANCE FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

מפתיה.

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