TNAG-1250-FCO40-1564-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 60

RESTRICTED

C) CHINA WAS NOT IN THE LEAST WORRIED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF AN OUTFLOW OF PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE. THE GAP CAUSED BY EMIGRATION OF DOCTORS COULD BE FILLED BY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOCTORS IN CHINA

WHO WERE AS WELL QUALIFIED AS DOCTORS IN HONG KONG. THE EMIGRATION OF LAWYERS WOULD NOT BE A LOSS, BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY STAYED THEY

WOULD HAVE TO LEARN THINGS OVER AGAIN AFTER 1997.

D) ALTHOUGH THE SOCIAL AND LEGAL SYSTEMS IN HONG KONG WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED, THE CRIMINAL LAW WOULD HAVE TO BE AMENDED, NOTABLY TO REINTRODUCE THE DEATH PENALTY.

3. IN THE REGULAR QUOTE CHINESE OPINION UNQUOTE COLUMN IN THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE HONG KONG STANDARD, MR. CHANG KUO-SIN (A NOTED CHINA WATCHER, A FORMER UPI CORRESPONDENT IN CHINA AND A MEMBER OF STAFF OF THE BAPTIST COLLEGE) SAID THAT, FOR CHINESE POLI- TICIANS, OBJECTIVE AND INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM DID NOT AND COULD NOT EXIST. IN HIS EXPERIENCE THIS APPLIED ALMOST AS MUCH TO THE

NATIONALISTS AS TO THE COMMUNISTS. IT WAS A SAD COMMENTARY ON

CHINA AND AN INDICTEMENT OF HER RULERS THAT HE HAD HAD TO COME

TO A COLONY TO FIND PRESS FREEDOM.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

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

INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:

(VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS

NEWS DEPT

2

MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR A PARSONS

1

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF

MR GOODALL MR BRENNAN .......

CABINET OFFICE CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

RESTRICTED HKGO LONDON

אן —

!!

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