As reported on discourse [1], files that are saved with Octave's editor encoded in HZ-GB-2312 [2] lead to a syntax error on execution (when they start with an ASCII character which a valid .m file always needs to).

Steps to reproduce with the attached file:

>> __mfile_encoding__ ('HZ-GB-2312')
>> test_hz_gb_2312
parse error near line 1 of file D:\SVN\Octave\test_hz_gb_2312.m

  syntax error

>>> ?}1;
    ^

I'm not sure if the error is on encoding (i.e. the file shouldn't start with "~}" [0x7E 0x7D] in the first place) or on decoding the file.

[1]: https://octave.discourse.group/t/no-text-on-script-syntax-error/465
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HZ_(character_encoding)