TNAG-1299-FCO40-1655-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 44

Coverage:

Secretary of State's Visit to HK

Press Coverage and Comments in HK Saturday, 21 April 1984

Reports of Sir Geoffrey Howe's press conference dominated all newspapers as well as TV and radio stations. Many papers carried the full text of his statement and his question and answer session with the press. The electronic media, apart from broadcasting the press conference live, devoted a major portion of their news sessions to the press conference.

TV and radio stations generally led off their reports by saying that Sir Geoffrey had made it clear that it would not be realistic to expect British administration in Hong Kong to continue beyond 1997. This point was also used as headlines by several papers, including major left-wing papers such as Ta Kung Pao, New Evening Post and independent papers such as the Hong Kong Daily News. The leading left-wing paper Wen Wei Po's front page banner-headlines read: "Sir Geoffrey indicates that Britain does not insist on sovereignty; an agreement will preserve existing systems in Hong Kong."

-

Among the mass-circulation papers, the Oriental Daily banner-headlined its front page that the talks on Hong Kong was alming at an agreement which would enshrine the principle of Hong Kong people goveming Hong Kong. Ming Pao and Sing Tao Jih Pao were among the few papers which highlighted that the Foreign Secretary had assured the continuity of present way of life. Ming Pao also said Sir Geoffrey had emphasised that the administration of Hong Kong would remain unchanged during the next 13 years.

Sing Pao, another big-circulation paper, banner-headlined its front page that Britain was abandoning Hong Kong in 1997. The pro-Talwan Kung Sheung Daily News said Britain was to abandon sovereignty over Hong Kong and there was absolutely no guarantee that things would remain the same for 50 years. Tin Tin Daily News, which has all along supported China's stance, headlined what it called a "complete surrender" by Britain on the sovereignty issue.

While the papers chose different angles for their headlines, they were all factual in their reports which detailed Sir Geoffrey's statement and the question and answer session. Among the points covered by Sir Geoffrey, the assurance that Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy under Chinese sovereignty was highlighted by many papers, left-wing and right-wing alike, as cross-heads. Several papers, Including Wen Wei Po and the Hong Kong Economic Journal, also highlighted the point that an agreement would be an international one with binding effect on both sides.

Many papers, including the left-wing dailies, said the New China News Agency had reported Sir Geoffrey's press conference, as had BBC's World Service newscast. The NCNA report started by saying that Britain and China were looking for arrangements that would secure for HK a high degree of autonomy under Chinese sovereignty, and that would preserve the way of life in HK together with the essentials of the present systems. BBC World Service, as relayed by RTHK, said Initial reaction to the press conference was generally favourable though cautious. TV and radio stations also quoted a Government spokesman as saying Sir Geoffrey would have no other official statement in HK in the next two days.