CRS-24
the community. There have been few important political parties indigenous to
the colony, although both the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese Nationalist
Party maintain some influence there.
Middle class Hong Kong business and professional leaders, who are seen
as more committed to Hong Kong's future and representing natural leaders under
the current situation, have appeared only recently to organize themselves so
that their views on the need for PRC noninterference in Hong Kong will be taken
into account. Presumably, American officials could encourage these middle class
Hong Kong representives to organize themselves more rapidly and effectively in
order to make sure that their interests which appear compatible with American
interests in the territory are taken more fully into account by the PRC in
future policy toward Hong Kong. Nevertheless, this approach could backfire if
it became known to PRC leaders, who then might view such Hong Kong representa-
tives as an American "front" less credible to the PRC.