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The HK compatriots and overseas Chinese, especially those in Britain, are very closely related and are in constant touch. They are naturally concerned with the HK question. It is not easy to have quick solutions to questions like maintenance of prosperity, the feasibility of the self-rule formula and the acceptability of many of the proposals. But I believe that everyone present here will not deny that HK is part of the inseparable territory of China and eventually must be reunited with the mainland. What needs to be discussed is how to maintain HK's prosperity and how to practise democracy there.
Sometimes I feel that prosperity is just like clothing while sovereignty is the body and administrative right is the brain. If there is only the body but no brain, how can behaviour and speech be controlled? On the other hand, it is hard to accept that for the sake of clothing, the brain is surrendered to others for operation and controlled by others.
However, it is also incorrect to say that Britain can take up no positive role in HK after 1997. HK has been associated with the British over a hundred years. The younger generation is educated according to the British way of thinking. Their judgement will be influenced by their British education. Many of these are valuable and healthy ones that are worthy to be retained, e.g. the fairness of the British.
China proposes to implement a "minor constitution" in HK as opposed to the "major constitution" in China. Though we have no way of knowing the details of this "minor constitution" as a special zone, it should be a good thing for HK to have a system of rules based on the rule of law. There is no way that the people in HK or the overseas Chinese will accept socialism one day or in 1997. Yet as children of the motherland living abroad, we should identify ourselves with our mother. This should be our basic attitude.
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To: Comr
DC
AC/HQ
SLO
SA
PO
CLO
FCO (Mr Richard Hoare)
GIS
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