GRS 800
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 06044OZ OCT 84
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3141 OF 6 OCTOBER
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
49
OUR TELNOS 2834 AND 3078.
FUTURE OF HONG KONG REPORT ON PUBLIC OPINION.
HKK046/25
10 OCT 1984
JAL
•
THERE WAS INTENSE INTEREST THROUGHOUT HONG KONG IN THE EVENTS
SURROUNDING PUBLICATION OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT ON 26 SEPTEMBER. OVER
TWO MILLION COPIES OF THE WHITE PAPER HAVE NOW BEEN DISTRIBUTED.
2. THE AGREEMENT WAS WELCOMED BY ALMOST ALL SECTIONS OF HONG KONG
OPINION. ON THE MORNING AFTER PUBLICATION, ALMOST ALL PAPERS (EXCEPT
FOR THOSE KNOWN TO FAVOUR THE KMT) COMMENTED FAVOURABLY ON THE
AMOUNT OF DETAIL IT CONTAINED. A WIDE RANGE OF OPINION FORMERS
(UNOFFICIALS, ACADEMICS, INDUSTRIALISTS, PROFESSIONALS, COMMUNITY
LEADERS ETC) WERE PROMINENTLY REPORTED TO HAVE SPOKEN IN ITS SUPPORT.
3. DISTRICT OFFICERS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG HAVE COMMENTED THAT THE
AGREEMENT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED, AND WAS GENERALLY JUDGED MORE
DETAILED AND BETTER THAN EXPECTED. THE SECTION ON LAND WAS SEEN AS
ONE OF THE BIGGEST PLUSES, BY PROPERTY OWNERS AND NEW TERRITORIES
PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR. SOME DISTRICT OFFICERS COMMENTED THAT EVEN
SUPPORTERS OF THE KMT HAVE IN MANY CASES EXPRESSED RELIEF AND
PLEASURE. SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT THEY WILL NOW TRY TO PERSUADE
RELATIVES WHO HAVE EMIGRATED TO COME BACK AGAIN. NAGGING DOUBTS
ABOUT WHETHER THE CHINESE COULD BE TRUSTED TO IMPLEMENT THE AGREEMENT
CAUSED THE MAIN SHADOW. THERE WAS ALSO SOME CONCERN ABOUT NATIONA-
LITY AND TRAVEL RIGHTS, (WHAT DOCUMENTS WOULD HONG KONG PEOPLE
REQUIRE TO SECURE FREEDOM OF TRAVEL AFTER 1997?) AND DEFENCE (WOULD
HONG KONG RESIDENTS BE LIABLE TO CONSCRIPTION AFTER 1997? HOW MANY
PLA TROOPS WOULD BE STATIONED HERE?)
4. FIVE DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE SO FAR DISCUSSED THE AGREEMENT, AND
HAVE GENERALLY ENDORSED IT (WITH SOME CALLS FOR CLARIFICATION ON
PARTICULAR AREAS, E.G. NATIONALITY AND LAND). THE REMAINING BOARDS
AND THE URBAN COUNCIL HAVE SCHEDULED SPECIAL MEETINGS OVER THE NEXT
FORTNIGHT TO DISCUSS IT. THE HEUNG YEE KUK IS TO HOLD A MEETING FOR
THE SAME PURPOSE. INEVITABLY THERE WILL BE MORE CAUTIOUS SECOND
THOUGHTS, SOME OF WHICH ARE ALREADY APPEARING. THE PHRASE 'TOO
GOOD TO BE TRUE' IS BEING USED BY THOSE WHO CANNOT BELIEVE THAT
CHINA WILL HONOUR THE AGREEMENT. THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
HAS EXPRESSED MISGIVINGS ABOUT THE POSITION OF EDTC'S, AND HAS
PREDICTED THAT MANY OF THEM WILL PUT A HIGH PRIORITY ON EMIGRATION
IN THE NEXT 13 YEARS REGARDLESS OF HOW STABLE AND SECURE HONG KONG
REMAINS.'' SOME PEOPLE ARE COMMENTING THAT, IF THE TEXT OF THE DRAFT
AGREEMENT IS UNALTERABLE, THERE IS NO POINT IN SUBMITTING COMMENTS
ON IT TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE.
CONFIDENTIAL
15.
Laken
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.