- 3
Friday, July 24, 1970
There was nothing in the quality of the people, or the strength
of the economy, standing in the way of change in the political set-up,
"but if we headed that way, we should for sure be running a serious risk
of upsetting Hong Kong's political stability the key to our prosperity
and the steady improvement to the general living of the people," Mr. Iai
said,
In his analysis of the situation in Hong Kong, he gave these factors
as deserving examination: China's attitude towards Hong Kong, the attitude
of the British people towards Hong Kong, and the attitude of the people
of Hong Kong.
Supported By People
Of the first, he saw no indication China wanted to bother Hong
Kong.
She derived considerable benefits from the fact that economically
and politically Hong Kong was not a part of China. It was possible for
her to "tolerate" the present administrative arrangements that caused her
no inconvenience, and which were supported by the people here.
Of the second, while he supposed the majority of the people in
Britain were indifferent to Hong Kong, the British Government had given
repeated assurances that its obligations towards the Colony would remain
unaltered so long as the people of Hong Kong wanted to maintain the present
status quo.
In regard to local attitudes, he said this was being determined by
the high standard of education that had been attained in the last 20 years
a trend that would continue in the future.
/"In