II SOCIAL FACTS AND PROPOSALS FOR REFORMS
For the purpose of upholding national pride and safeguarding their due
rights while at the same time reinforcing the interests of Hong Kong and
enhancing international relations, the New Territories people are presenting their
views to the officials and unofficials in the U.K., requesting acceptance of their
plans for social reforms in the New Territories. No longer will their political
rights be suppressed nor economic interests exploited once the basis of fairness
is established. The Heung Yee Kuk cherishes the belief that, under the unanimous
aspiration and support of the whole population, there will be no external
political intervention in the future.
The Heung Yee Kuk has formulated two principles and four requests in
campaigning for social reforms in the New Territories. The two principles are:-
The revision of law and policies of economic exploitation.
1.
2.
The revision of administrative systems that produce privileged classes.
The four requests are:-
1.
The sharing of the right in politics.
2.
The sharing of the profits from developments.
3.
The sharing of the opportunities for education.
4.
The sharing of public services.
It is neither independence nor autonomy for the New Territories that
the Heung Yee Kuk seeks. Rather, it is the freedom of choice in establishing a
fair social system that the Heung Yee Kuk champions. By doing so, the political
privilege and the economic interests of the New Territories people will no longer
be infringed upon or exploited.
Today, the people of both China and Great Britain are of equal status.
The continual administration of the New Territories by Britain, based on
historical legacies, is a most extraordinary international phenomenon. There are
about 40 thousand overseas New Territories villagers earning their living in
Britain, thus giving rise to a new bearing on the economic as well as political
spheres. It not only helps to improve the relationship between China and the
United Kingdom but also leads to the peaceful coexistence between these two
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