TNAG-2781-FCO40-4000-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1993 — Page 87

Date

CONFIDENTIAL

- 13 -

Chinese Comments on the Han Dongfang Case

Official/Sources

Comments

/Commentators

3.9.93

Tsui Tong in the HK Commercial Daily

3.9.93

Yu Sze in Wen Wei Po

4.9.93

Appendix III

The HK Government has gained a lot by capitalising on the Han Dongfang case.

At least it can divert people's attention from its new measures to allow expatriate civil servants to switch to local employment terms.

CS Sir David Ford had used the Han Dongfang case to mislead the public and try to shake HK people's confidence in the BL and the territory's future after 1997. He is also attempting to magnify the case so as to upset the Sino-British talks by exerting pressure on China.

Ngai Chak in Wen Wei Po

Mr Patten is trying to use the Han Dongfang case to pressurise China in the hope of gaining more chips to sell his political reform package and to take the heat out of the controversy aroused by the new measures to allow expatriate civil servants to switch to local terms.

4.9.93

Ta Kung Pao editorial

4.9.93

HK Commercial Daily editorial

The so-called Han Dongfang affair is a signal of the British side to exert pressure on China at the 10th round of talks. This being the case, the negotiations are bound to suffer setbacks.

The remark by Mr Patten that China has violated international law by not allowing Han Dongfang to return to the country has poisoned the atmosphere of the talks. If Mr Patten's words represent the British Government's attitude, HK people would have little to be hopeful about the prospects of the talks.

CONFIDENTIAL