Financialy Daily doubted whether Britain could secure an agreement.for HK with a true international binding affect because such an agreement would be a departure from China's plan to draw up. a basic law for HK as a Special Administration Region, However, the paper admitted that the talks had made considerable progress and the situation showed that both sides were very sincere In concluding a satisfactory agreement on HK's future. The remaining work would be an enormous challenge to both sides and would need a great deal of diplomatic manoeuvring and political wisdom,
In a less optimistic tone, the Express said no matter how optimistic Sir Geoffrey's statement was about the future arrangements for HK, as far as the transfer of sovereignty and administration was concerned, the die was cast. This was a direct blow to the optimists who should now discard their Illusions and face the reality. In the context of China regaining sovereignty in 1997, local people would view the British Government and people from a different angle. They would no longer consider Britain as their home. On the contrary, they might regard the British people as "the god of epidemics" and would try to stay away from them in order to avoid any trouble in the future. The mutual trust between local people and the HK Government would disappear. This situation would make it difficult to rule this place in the next 13 years. What was more important was the sentiments of the 100 000 civil servants here, particularly those in the disciplined services. The idea of a sell-out might be wrong, but it would not be right to let HK people know the details of the agreement only after it had been concluded.
Sing Tao Jih Pao said the candid disclosure made by Sir Geoffrey gave some authoritative, and direct Information to HK people who had expressed so much concern about their own future. But people here were still disappointed that the talks would remain confidential.
The two pro-Taiwan papers, Kung Sheung Daily News and HK Times responded negatively to the Secretary of State's statement. Kung Sheung said it was disappointing to hear that Britain would assign the fate of HK people to China without any concrete guarantee or assurance. The only hope now was that the agreement needed the approval of Parliament and Legco. The paper urged people to speak up positively for their own future. In an editorial entitled "HK people are disappointed by Britain's weak position”, HK Times said under communist China's enormous pressure, Britain had failed to make a breakthrough favourable to HK. Peking had succeeded in using its empty promises to gain practical benefits in HK including the administration, defence and economic gains.
In the left-wing press, only Ching Po, the Centre Daily News and Tin Tin Daily News touched on Sir Geoffrey's press conference in their editorials today.
Ching Po said although Sir Geoffrey's statement had not removed all of Hong Kong people's worries, he had shed light on many questions. Sir Geoffrey had, in effect, confirmed the series of policies adopted by China In resolving the Hong Kong question.
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