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that the team would present a 20 000-word statement about the position of the NT to the vice-chairman of the NPC, Mr. Liao Chengzhi, urging China to draw up a concrete plan to restore the confidence of local residents and investors. The statement would also ask China to retain the existing government structure and political and economic systems upon reversion of sovereignty. It hoped that China would allow HK to play the role of logistics base for South China Sea oil exploration to ensure that its economic growth could be sustained. To maintain people's confidence, the Chinese Government should also provide assistance to HK in the form of massive projects such as the construction of the new airport and the nuclear power plant. The delegation would also urge China to make the outcome of the talks known to local people once an agreement was reached. The Standard of 31 December said it had been learned the delegation would ask Chinese leaders if NT landowners needed to pay premium for their land upon expiry of the 1997 lease, and would seek assurance that the interests of indigenous NT residents would be protected after China regained
sovereignty.
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MORE COMMENT ON REN ZHONGYI'S REMARKS:
There has been more editorial comment on Mr. Ren Zhongyi's statement that to flee was the worst strategy. The New Evening Post quoted national dignity to refute Ming Pao's editorial which said confidence could be built up only if there was an international convention to safeguard HK's future. The paper said HK residents should have faith in the ability of Chinese people instead of clinging on to foreigners. It was national dignity that counted as far as the 1997 question was concerned; a written assurance would in no way guarantee HK's prosperity. The Financial Daily said discontent was brewing among other Chinese provinces over Guangdong's open door policy which gave its economy big boost. There was an allegation in the northern provinces that, apart from the Chinese flag, everything in Guangdong had changed. While the changes in Guangdong were no surprise to us, it was amazing to find such resistance within China. Undoubtedly one would shudder at the thought of what would be the reaction of Chinese people if HK was placed under communist rule. The HK Economic Journal believed that fleeing from HK must have become a serious problem, or else Mr. Ren would not have made such an appeal. The paper said despite complaints about the living conditions, the law and order situation, traffic congestion and uneven distribution of wealth in the past, the pressing issue of HK's future had recently made people realise that Hong Kong, after all, was a beautiful place to live in compared with other countries. No doubt, fleeing from HK was the last alternative, but empty promises would not help dispel this sentiment.
In an interview with Wen Wei Po, two HK delegates to the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress said they agreed with Mr. Ren Zhongyi that fleeing was the worst policy. People who wanted to make a living in an exotic place would have to give up their acquired interests here to start afresh.
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