translation
Forner General-Anzeiger, 25.8.1957
Hong Kong's "Tire-komb" is Ticking"
British prepar "orderly retreat" from Crown Color
By Dietmar Bokuln Hp
Long Hong (dre). A feeling of resignation is spreading through Long Lo". For the over 5 million inhabitants of the city hoper ale cwindling that the British flag will still be fl over the Governor's palace after 1997. It is assumed thet Communist-governed China will annex the area of the present british Crown Colony faster than was thought just a few months ago. In their negotiations with Peking the British already seen to be pre- paring themselves for a "withdrawal in good order". In the mean- time, capital continues to flow out of Hong Kong in fear of an economic collapse when the fateful day comes in the next 14
years.
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Both sides have imposed a blackout on news of the talks about the future of Hong Kong which have been going on between Peking and London since November 1982. Sparse comments from senior Hong Kong officials indicate that it will take another two years before a settlement is reached on China's take-over of the area.
A high-ranking Chinese official recently gave important pointers as to how the Chinese leadership sees the future of Hong Kong and what it has presented as its maximum demands in negotiations with the British Government. The present Crown Colony is to become a "Hong Kong Administrative District" with a special status when Feking considers "the time is ripe", but no later than 1997. British officials will, at best, only be able to stay on es "advisers". According to one Chinesc civil servant, Hong Kong's current social and economic system and present life-style would chang just as little as its external trade policy. Furthermore, Hong Hong would remain a free port and an international finance centro.
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