TNAG-2781-FCO40-4000-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1993 — Page 184

Date

CONFIDENTIAL

9

Chinese Comments on HK as a Political City

Official/Sources

Comments

Appendix II

/Commentators

8.7.93

Wang Qiren

8.7.93

Editorials in Ta Kung Pao and The HK Commercial Daily

HK is an international financial centre but there should be political stability.

Douglas Hurd's remarks on HK being a political centre are worrying because should HK become an arena for international political forces, its prosperity will be destroyed and HK people will suffer.

9.7.93

Zhang Junsheng

Matters concerning HK could only be

9.7.93

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wu Jianmin

9.7.93

CNA commentary

9.7.93

Wen Wei Po's editorial

9.7.93

Tse Ming in Ta Kung Pao

10.7.93

Qian Qichen

10.7.93

HKMAO Director Lu Ping

resolved by adherence to the JD and convergence with the BL as well as by recognition of past agreements. It is not helpful to HK's prosperity and stability to bring up remarks such as HK being a political city.

HK is an international financial and business centre. It is something entirely different from bringing politics into the internationalisation of the HK question.

The "political city" remark has done nothing positive in narrowing the gap between China and Britain. On the contrary, it will cause troubles to the talks.

Mr Hurd's remarks make people wonder if Britain's goals in political reforms have deviated from the JD. It is a petty trick to turn HK from a financial to a political city. Should HK become a city where different political forces come into play, HK's economy will suffer.

The "political city" remarks have been made in support of Mr Patten's attempt to internationalise the HK question.

HK is a very important international financial, monetary, shipping and trading centre. The "biggest" politics is to maintain HK's prosperity, stability and international status.

HK's value lies in its economy and not its politics. It will be a major misfortune for HK if it should be turned into an arena where various political forces come into play.

CONFIDENTIAL