CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2338
OF 12113OZ JULY 89
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
118
116433
MDHIAN 2999
AKB026/20
TOP COPY
R
Q DIST ?
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR
MIPT : LOCAL REACTION TO SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG 2-4 JULY
SUMMARY
THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TOOK PLACE AGAINST A BACKCLOTH OF
HEIGHTENED EMOTIONS POST TIANANMEN MASSACRE AND DISSATISFACTION
WITH THE FAC REPORT. TO SOME EXTENT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT
PROVIDED A LIGHTNING ROD ON WHICH THESE EMOTIONS WERE DISCHARGED. HOWEVER, THE ABSENCE OF ANY FIRM COMMITMENT ON NATIONALITY FUELLED THE DEBATE AND AGGRAVATED NASCENT ANTI-BRITISH SENTIMENT. THE BOIL
HAS THUS BEEN LANCED AND EXPECTATIONS LOWERED, BUT A SENSE OF GRIEVANCE REMAINS.
MEDIA REACTION
2. THE PUBLICATION OF THE FAC REPORT, AND UNFORTUNATE REMARKS BY MR ADLEY, HAD SPARKED AN ANGRY AND EMOTIONAL MEDIA REACTION EVEN BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF STATE ARRIVED. HENCE THE MEDIA'S INSTANT DISSATIS- FACTION (LED BY FOREIGN JOURNALISTS) WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE
DECLINED TO TAKE PRESS QUESTIONS AT THE AIRPORT UPON ARRIVAL. SUBSEQUENT COMMENT REFLECTED PUBLIC DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S NEGATIVE RESPONSE ON NATIONALITY AND WHAT WAS SEEN AS THE
ABSENCE OF ANY POSITIVE MESSAGE TO BALANCE IT.
3. IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PRESS, THE STANDARD DESCRIBED THE VISIT AS QUOTE A DIPLOMATIC NON-EVENT UNQUOTE. HONG KONG DID NOT NEED THIS
KIND OF FLEETING VISIT. THE LESSON TO LEARN FROM THE VISIT WAS THAT HONG KONG COULD NOT DEPEND ON BRITAIN TO FULFILL HER OBLIGATIONS. A
FASTER PACE OF DEMOCRATISATION WAS BEING OFFERED ONLY TO APPEASE HONG KONG PEOPLE. IN SIMILAR VEIN, THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST DESCRIBED THE REASONS GIVEN BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR REJECTING
HONG KONG PEOPLE'S REQUEST FOR THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN UK AS QUOTE
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