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an economic crisis that it could not pull itself out and return to its former stability. The Chinese Government had never recognised the unequal treaties and so the year 1997 meant nothing to it. Let us cast our eyes beyond any particular year. The Club had already offered its services in the matter of finding a solution. It had sent a delegation to London to express the views of HK people and planned to send another to Beijing next year.
Wang Kuang to leave soon: Quoting unnamed sources, a few papers said the Chinese ambassador in London, Mr. Ke Hua, would soon take over from Mr. Wang Kuang, as first director of the HK Branch of Xinhua News Agency. The sources said the posting of a senior diplomat would enhance communication with Beijing with regard to the talks. The sources also said that the Governor was expected to take part in the talks after Lunar New Year. The SCMP mentioned the rumour that Mr. Wang, an "amiable, genteel, scholarly- looking man", would be leaving shortly, but attempts to confirm this with the Agency ad proved fruitless.
End speculation call: The Financial Secretary, Mr. John Bremridge, called for an end to speculation over HK's future and praised major local banks which he said had done much, but talked little. His remarks prompted the left-wing Ching Po to say that there was still too much speculation on HK's future and that people were making irresponsible remarks. The paper said confidence was needed in order to maintain HK's stability and prosperity.
Letters: A Hong Kong Belonger wrote praising Miss Margaret Ng for her column last week and the ensuing SCMP editorial. The letter said it was the middle class who had helped to make HK what it was today. Now they were at a crossroad. There would always be a Hong Kong because of the many benefits it contributed to China, but while the play would essentially be the same there might not be the same gifted and conscientious actors to act it out.
In a letter to the Kung Sheung Daily News on 19 December, a reader suggested that HK should send a delegation to ask Mrs. Thatcher to turn to Taiwan for help, openly or secretly, in resolving the HK issue. He said the British Government could ask Taiwan to take over HK. It would have a three-fold purpose in so doing. Firstly, HK would become part of Chinese territory since China always regarded Taiwan as an integral part of China. Secondly, to place HK under Taiwan's rule would allay people's fear of a communist takeover, and lastly, Chinese leaders would not have to confront a face-losing situation of extending the lease should they be left with no other alternatives.
Monday's SCMP had a long letter about the Government of HK after 1997, by Mr. David Chan Wah-tsang, which said HK people desired the continuance of colonial rule and the crucial question was could HK's economic and social structures survive any change in the political/administrative system? The writer said people only minded what directly affected them, so any change in the political system at a level not directly affecting the living of the citizens would be tolerated or even ignored. It seemed that an administrative structure consisting of various committees at different levels might function well if China
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