TNAG-1250-FCO40-1564-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 6

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HKK 040/2

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

29 VEL 1983

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GRS 250

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DESK BY FCO 30090OZ

FM HONG KONG 3007002 DEC 83

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 2038 OF 30 DECEMBER

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

AFB S/CMBLI

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, PEKING.

ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, NEW YORK

BRUSSELS AND GENEVA.

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS COVERAGE.

A VERY QUIET DAY.

2. A COMMENTATOR IN A REGULAR COLUMN IN THE NEW EVENING POST (COMMUNIST) ON 29 DECEMBER ATTACKED THE POLITICAL COMMENTATOR OF THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL (SUEN DAO-YEUNG) WHO RECENTLY PUBLISHED ARTICLES CRITICAL OF CHINA'S POLICITY ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. (SOME OF THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL ARTICLES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN EARLIER TELEGRAMS IN THIS SERIES E.G. MY TELNOS 1984 AND 1824). THE NEW EVENING POST DESCRIBED SUEN AS AN IGNORANT MAN. SUEN HAD SUGGESTED THAT CHINA WAS CAPABLE OF ORGANIZING DISTURBANCES IN HONG KONG IN ORDER TO CREATE AN EXCUSE FOR EXPELLING THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES FROM HONG KONG. THE NEW EVENE ING POST SAID THAT CHINA HAD MANY EXCUSES FOR EXPELLING THE BRITISH FROM HONG KONG AND WOULD NOT HAVE TO RESORT TO SUCH DUBIOUS

TACTICS.

2. MOST PAPERS REPORTED THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ANGLO-HONG KONG PARLIAMENTARY GROUP SIR PETER BLAKER, WOULD ARRIVE IN HONG KONG ON 4 JANUARY FOR A 10 DAY VISIT DURING WHICH HE WOULD MEET THE GOVERNOR, UMELCO MEMBERS, URBAN COUNCILLORS, DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF GRASS ROOTS OPINION.

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