TNAG-1331-FCO40-1758-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 307

3.4

THE EXTENT AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MEDIA COVERAGE MONITORED BY THE OFFICE IS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPHS 2.10 AND 2.11. ITS DEPTH AND RANGE HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE. THE OVERALL PICTURE FROM THE MEDIA IS ONE OF GENERAL ACCEPTANCE

OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT. A SMALL NUMBER OF NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES IS KNOWN CONSISTENTLY TO TAKE A PRO-BEIJING OR PRO-TAIWAN STAND BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE DAILY NEWSPAPERS AND MAGIZINES READ BY THE BULK OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE HAVE NO DISCERNIBLE POLITICAL LEANINGS. THESE PUBLICATIONS AND

THE COVERAGE GIVEN BY RADIO AND TELEVISION HAVE CONSISTENTLY TAKEN THE VIEW THAT THE DRAFT AGREEMENT IS ACCEPTABLE IN GENERAL TERMS. THIS VIEW IS ILLUSTRATED BY

THE FOLLOWING QUOTATIONS :-

''IT HAS PRODUCED A DOCUMENT THAT, IF NOTHING ELSE, WILL BE READ BY FUTURE GENERATIONS AS

A LANDMARK OF GOOD SENSE, HUMAN

REASONABLENESS, DELICATE COMPROMISE AND HIGH IDEALISM. AND IF IT SUCCEEDS, AS WE

EARNESTLY HOPE IT WILL, NOT JUST HONG KONG,

BUT THE WORLD WILL BE A BETTER PLACE.''

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

27.9.84

''THE CONTENT OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT IS BETTER

THAN EXPECTED.''

- (TRANSLATION)

ORIENTAL DAILY 27.9.84

''MEETS THE WISHES OF HONG KONG PEOPLE.''

-

(TRANSLATION).

MING PAO

27.9.84

''THE DOCUMENTS PROVIDE THE MOST SOLID

POSSIBLE FOUNDATION ON WHICH THE COMMUNITY

OF HONG KONG AND THOSE WHO TRADE WITH AND

INVEST IN HONG KONG CAN GO ON BUILDING

PROSPERITY.''

DEREK DAVIS

FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC

REVIEW 4.10.84

''FROM RECENT OBSERVATIONS, A VAST MAJORITY

OF HONG KONG PEOPLE FIND THE DRAFT AGREEMENT

SATISFACTORY.''

---17-

-

SECRET

(TRANSLATION)

JOSEPH CHENG WIDE ANGLE

16.10.84

.at

/VIENS