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3. 14 PAPERS COMMENTED ON THE PRESS CONFERENCE. THERE WAS NO(NO) EDITORIAL COMMENT IN EITHER OF THE MAJOR COMMUNIST PAPERS. THE MING PAO (INDEPENDENT) SAID THAT THE SECRETARY OF
STATE HAD MADE THE GREATEST POSSIBLE DISCLOSURE WITHOUT VIOLATING THE PRINCIPLE OF CONFIDENTIALITY. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DID UNDERSTAND THE WISH OF LOCAL PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S EXISTING SYSTEMS. BRITAIN HAD STRIVED TO MAINTAIN BRITISH ADMINISTRATION AFTER 1997 BUT THIS HAD BEEN OPPOSED BY CHINA. THE SING PAO (INDEPENDENT) SAID THAT THE DIE WAS CAST IN THE FORM OF A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY UNDER CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY, BUT THE DETAILS WERE STILL SHROUDED IN FOG. AUTONOMY WAS SUBJECT TO DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS BY BRITAIN AND BY CHINA. THE HONG KONG DAILY NEWS (INDEPENDENT) WELCOMED THE FACT THAT, AS A RESULT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE, HONG KONG'S FUTURE WAS NOW CLEARER. THIS WOULD HELP REDUCE SPECULATION ON THE STOCK MARKETS. PEOPLE SHOULD NOT WORRY THAT AN AGREEMENT SIGNED BY BRITAIN AND CHINA WOULD BE CHANGED. THE FINANCIAL DAILY (INDEPENDENT) DOUBTED WHETHER BRITAIN COULD SECURE A TRULY BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT BECAUSE THIS WOULD CONFLICT WITH CHINA'S PLAN TO DRAW UP A BASIC LAW FOR HONG KONG AS A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF CHINA. THE REMAINING WORK WAS AN ENORMOUS CHALLENGE TO BOTH SIDES AND WOULD REQUIRE WISDOM AND MUCH DIPLOMATIC MANOEUVRING.
4. THE EXPRESS (RIGHT WING) SAID THAT NO MATTER HOW OPTIMISTIC THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD BEEN, THE DIE WAS NOW CAST ON SOVEREIGNTY AND ADMINISTRATION. HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD NO LONGER REGARD THE BRITISH AS BEING ON THEIR SIDE, AND THE MUTUAL TRUST BETWEEN LOCAL PEOPLE AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD DISAPPEAR. THE REACTIONS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES IN PARTICULAR WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT: THERE WAS A DANGER THAT HONG KONG WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO GOVERN. THE PRO-TAIWAN HONG KONG TIMES SAID THE HONG KONG PEOPLE WERE DISAPPOINTED BY BRITAIN'S WEAK POSITION. THE PEKING GOVERNMENT, THROUGH THE IP PRESSURE TACTICS, HAD GAINED A GREAT DEAL AND GIVEN ONLY EMPTY PROMISES.
5. THREE MINOR LEFT-WING PAPERS COMMENTED EDITORIALLY. THE CHING PO SAID THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD IN EFFECT CONFIRMED THE SERIES OF POLICIES ADOPTED BY CHINA IN RESOLVING THE HONG KONG QUESTION. MOST PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE CHINA RECOVER SOVEREIGNTY AND ADMINISTRATIVE RIGHTS OVER HONG KONG IN 1997. BRITAIN SHOULD TAKE PRACTICAL STEPS TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY AND MUST NOT ALLOW ANY UNREST TO DEVELOP. THE CENTRE DAILY SAID THAT BROAD PRINCIPLES HAD NOW BEEN SETTLED SINCE BRITAIN HAD CLEARLY INDICATED ITS DECISION TO GIVE UP SOVEREIGNTY AND ADMINISTRATION. IT SHOULD THEREFORE BE POSSIBLE TO CONCLUDE ON AN AGREEMENT BEFORE LONG. ANY DELAY WOULD BE HARMFUL. THE 'POINTS OF SUBSTANCE' WHICH SIR G. HOWE HAD SAID REMAINED TO BE CLEARED UP WERE NOT MATTERS OF BROAD PRINCIPLE. THE TALKS SHOULD THEREFORE DE SPEEDED UP. THE TIN TIN
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