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reality. The latest policy position is codified in the
Governor's Committee Paper GC27/73 which was discussed on
13th July 1973.
THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN THE WALLED CITY
General Attitude and Vested Interests
16.
17.
It is difficult to acertain the degree of political consciousness of the residents in the Walled City. Generally speaking, residents in the Walled City are not any different from residents in other
parts of the Colony. They can be regarded as politically apathetic. But there is one general conviction among the Walled
City residents. Whether it be out of dogmatic nationalism or out of the hope that the denial of British jurisdiction nay shield then against any undesirable Government interference in the affairs inside the Walled City, virtually every Walled City resident, when asked, is likely to clain Chinese jurisdiction over the area (15).
Therefore, the general attitude of Walled City residents
towards Hong Kong Government's involvement in the affairs of the Walled City is one of extreme pragnatism. Government regulatory activities inside the Walled City would certainly not be welcome and would even be resisted if they adversely affect the vested interests of the local residents, particularly the lord
interests. On the other hand, the Hong Kong Government is
expected by Walled City residents to look after their environmental and social well being. The common argument is that Walled City residents are also Hong Kong residents and should not be treated differently. In their contact with our staff, Walled City
residents consistently expressed their dissatisfaction of a
so-called government's discriminatory policy on water supply to their area, In fact, their greatest expectation from the Government is the installation of a regular water supply syste to replace the existing unhygienic and illegal supplies, for which they have to pay much more than any other Hong Kong resident has to pay for his regular supplies. Apart from water supplies
CONFIDENTIAL