UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
Man 340/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 5APR 1986
.?
REGISTRY
KA
Action Taken
TELNO 1254
OF 25111OZ APRIL 86
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, PEKING
OUR TELNO 1233: NATIONALITY ORDER IN COUNCIL : PRESS COVERAGE.
FACTUAL COVERAGE.
REACTIONS TO THE UK GOVERNMENT'S DECISIONS ON THE THREE REQUESTS FROM LEGCO CONTINUED TO RECEIVE HEAVY PRESS COVERAGE TODAY. THE MAIN
THESE ARE-
(A) ANGRY REACTION FROM THE INDIANS (WITH WHICH THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PRESS IS VIRTUALLY EXCLUSIVELY CONCERNED) (SEE MIFT FOR DETAILS):
(B) FAVOURABLE REACTION FROM SEVERAL PROMINENT FIGURES INCLUDING JOHN SWAINE, MARIA TAM, LIU YIU-CHU AND SWIRE TRAVEL EXECUTIVE HOWARD YOUNG:
(C) CONDEMNATION OF THE UK GOVERNMENT'S INTRANSGENCE BY BRITISH MPS PADDY ASHDOWN AND JACK ASHLEY: AND
(D) MRS. THATCHER'S REPLY TO MISS DUNN.
PRESS COMMENTARIES.
2. BOTH SCMP AND STANDARD CARRIED EDITORIALS ON THE REJECTION OF THE MINORITIES' REQUEST (SEE MIFT). FOUR CHINESE-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS (NEW EVENING POST, TIN TIN DAILY NEWS, HONG KONG TIMES AND THE EXPRESS) CARRIED COMMENTARIES ON THE UK GOVERNMENT'S DECISIONS (TWO IN TIN TIN DAILY NEWS). THE NEW EVENING POST URGED THE UK PARLIAMENT AND GOVERNMENT TO RE-CONSIDER THE MINORITIES' REQUEST. THE EDITORIAL IN TIN TIN DAILY NEWS CRITICISED THE HOME SECRETARY'S ASSURANCE OF SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION SHOULD THE MINORITIES COME UNDER PRESSURE TO LEAVE HONG KONG AFTER 1997. IT SAID THAT THE ASSURANCE WAS POTENTIALLY EMBARRASSING TO CHINA AND
-1-
| THE
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.