Licrued
Views of grass-roots organizations in Southern
District on Hoar Koral, future
Between October 1983 and March 1984, I had held a number of seminars on the question of Hong Kong's future with some 50 members
These organizations of grass-roots organizations in Southern District.
included kaifong associations, residents' associations, mutual aid committees, landlords' associations, sports associations, youth centres and religious groups, and were located between Telegraph Bay and Chek 0. I usually called on them at 8 p.m. The opinions expressed at the seminars by the attendants, who represented the lower middle class of the district, were recorded in writing.
Findings:
(1) How residents feel about China
A. Sovereignty over Hong Kong
But they felt that The opportune
Attendants at the seminars felt that Hong Kong was Chinese territory and sovereignty should belong to China. 1997 was not the right time to recover Hong Kong. time would be when China's economic and social development would have brought her closer to Hong Kong and when Hong Kong's administrativo system had become more democratised,
B. Confidence in China
Thus they
Those at the seminars came from different backgrounds. held different views on China's pledge to maintain the existing system unchanged for 50 years. Their views can be categorised as follows:
These people had
1. They have no faith at all in China's promises.
suffered much hardship and experienced political struggles in China in the early days of the Republic,
2. Some have considerable misgivings and reservations about China's promises mainly because China does not have a sound legal system and/inconsistencies in China's policies.
3. Some feel that China has made auch progress in recent years and
has taken active slaps to open up the country. They feel that if China continues to develop in this direction, har promises may be fulfilled,
4. Others feel that they are more labourers and are not in a position What they ask for is a to worry about the affairs of the nation.
full stomach and freedom of movement.
(2) How residents feel about Britain
1. Britein should not have broached the question of the three treaties
in the first place.
3. Britain's omenout of the Nationality Act was intended to bar
Tongkong progle from residing in the UK and was an sol of abandoning local coni Youtu.