''THE SOLUTION OF THE HONG KONG ISSUE UNDER
THE INNOVATIVE GUIDANCE OF THE ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS' CONCEPT WILL BE CONDUCIVE TO MAINTAINING THE STABILTIY AND PROSPERITY OF
HONG KONG. MOREOVER, THE SUCCESS OF THIS 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS' ARRANGEMENT MAY
EMBODY A MORE FAR-REACHING INTERNATIONAL
SIGNIFICANCE.''
(TRANSLATION)
HONG KONG FEDERATION OF
EDUCATION WORKERS
''THE WHITE PAPER ALSO LAYS A SOLID
FOUNDATION FOR THE SMOOTH RESUMPTION OF
SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG BY THE PEOPLE'S
REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON 1 JULY 1997.'
-
HONG KONG SOCIAL WORKERS
ASSOCIATION
3.22 THOSE WHOSE ACCEPTANCE WAS A QUALIFIED ONE
EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ABOUT CHINA'S ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT
THE PROVISIONS OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT. THE POINT WAS MADE
THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT THE ASSURANCES REGARDING
IMPLEMENTATION SO FAR AHEAD, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE PREPARED TO GIVE CHINA THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. THEY WERE CONCERNED
LEST ANY REDUCTION IN HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND THUS ITS VALUE TO CHINA AFTER 1997 WOULD REMOVE THE INCENTIVES FOR
CHINA TO COMPLY WITH THE UNDERTAKINGS IN THE DRAFT
AGREEMENT. THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF
UNDUE INTERFERENCE BY CHINA AND STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF INCORPORATING THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT
IN THE BASIC LAW WITH CLARITY AND IN DETAIL. THEY INSISTED
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTICIPATION BY HONG KONG PEOPLE IN
THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW AND IN THE WORK OF THE JOINT
LIAISON GROUP AND THE LAND COMMISSION. NOTWITHSTANDING
THESE RESERVATIONS, MOST TOOK A PRAGMATIC VIEW TOWARDS THE
FUTURE AND THE COMMON FEELING WAS THAT IT WAS UP TO THE
HONG KONG PEOPLE TO MAKE IT WORK.
''IT IS DIFFICULT TO FORESEE THE FUTURE. THE
DRAFT AGREEMENT IS A POSTDATED CHEQUE. THE
RESULT CAN ONLY BE KNOWN WHEN IT IS PROVED.'
AN INDIVIDUAL
''THE WORRY ABOUT HONG KONG BEING GOVERNED BY
PEOPLE FROM BEIJING OR FROM THE LEFT-WING
CANNOT BE REMOVED SIMPLY THE THE INITIALLING
OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT.''
SECRET-24-
(TRANSLATION)
LUNG YING
CHENG MING MAGAZINE
OCTOBER 1984
ICHINA