UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 515
(19
056727
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MAB 301/1
pa
MDLIAN 9467
FLD 1991
TOP COPY Q DIST?
OF 19110OZ FEBRUARY 91
14
INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO ROUTINE HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK, HKGO SAN FRANCISCO INFO ROUTINE HKGO GENEVA, UKMIS GENEVA
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: PRESS COVERAGE: WEEKLY ROUND-UP
SUMMARY
1. NOT MUCH NEWS BECAUSE OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
FUTURE
GENERAL REMARKS
2. THE MEDIA (14-17.2) CARRIED COMMENTS BY CHINESE PREMIER LI PENG THAT THE MAINTENANCE OF THE LONG-TERM STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG AND MACAU WAS THE LONG-STANDING POLICY OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. THE CHINESE BELIEVED THAT THROUGH THE EFFECTIVE CO-OPERATION OF THE SINO-BRITISH AND SINO-PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENTS AND CONCERTED EFFORTS OF HONG KONG AND MACAU COMPATRIOTS, A STEADY TRANSITION AND A SMOOTH TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY WOULD BE ATTAINED. THE LATEST EDITION OF OUTLOOK WEEKLY CARRIED A NEW YEAR MESSAGE BY DIRECTOR OF THE HKMAO, LU PING, IN WHICH HE MENTIONED THAT HE HAD CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND MACAU. HE SAID THAT THE CHINESE WOULD CLOSELY ABIDE BY THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SINO-BRITISH AND SINO- PORTUGUESE JDS AND WOULD PERSIST IN IMPLEMENTING LONG-ESTABLISHED POLICIES FOR HONG KONG AND MACAU, INCLUDING THE PRINCIPLE OF 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS'. HE REITERATED THAT CHINA WOULD SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF THE HONG KONG AND MACAU COMPATRIOTS AND PROMOTE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN THE TWO TERRITORIES.
3. WRITING IN THE OVERSEAS EDITION OF THE PEOPLE'S DAILY (14.2), LU PING SAID THAT THE CHINESE HAD NO INTENTION OF INTERFERING WITH HONG KONG AFFAIRS THAT WERE WITHIN THE AMBIT OF HONG KONG'S ADMINISTRATION BEFORE 1997 BUT THAT CHINA WOULD NATURALLY ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT IMPORTANT MATTERS THAT STRADDLED 1997, THAT HAD CLOSE CONNECTION WITH THE SMOOTH TRANSFER OF THE SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997, AND THAT REQUIRED THE FUTURE SAR GOVERNMENT TO SHOULDER RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS. OTHER PAPERS PICKED THIS UP THE FOLLOWING DAY. HE MAINTAINED THAT SUCH A MOVE WAS COMPLETELY IN LINE WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE JD. THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S
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