8. WE TRUST THAT MP. JI'S VISIT WILL CONVINCE HIM OF GUR
DETERMINATION TO KEEP HONG KONG PROSPERIOUS AND STABLE. OUR PUBLIC
FINANCES ARE SOUND, FAR SOUNDER THAN THOSE OF MOST THEP COUNTRIES
WE ARE CONTINUING TO BUILD UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF HONG KONG AND
TO PROMOTE ITS GROWTH AS A MANUFACTURING CENTRE, AS A FINANCIAL
CENTRE, AND AS A MAJOR COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE. HONG KONG WILL HAVE
IN 1997 AN EVEN BETTER ROAD SYSTEM, AN EVEN LARGER CONTAINER POPT, A MUCH LARGER UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, A MORE UP TO DATE STOCK EXCHANGE,
MORE HOTELS FOR TOURISTS, ETC. ETC. THIS IS PRACTICAL EVIDENCE THAT WE ARE WORKING CONSCIENTIOUSLY TO PRESERVE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY, AS WE SAID WE WOULD DO IN THE JOINT DECLARATION, SO THAT BY 1997
HONG KONG WILL STILL BE A THRIVING AND SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY.
9. AS REGARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PEPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IT IS
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT HONG KONG HAS NOW A HIGHLY DEVELOPED
CAPITALIST ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SYSTEM. OVER THE LAST 10 OR 15
YEARS THAT SYSTEM HAS COME BOTH TO NEED AND TO PRODUCE A HIGHLY EDUCATED AND PROFESSIONAL MIDDLE CLASS OF ENGINEERS, LAWYERS, ACCOUNTANTS, BANKERS, MANAGERS AND COMMUNICATIONS EXPERTS. AS
EDUCATION HAS PROGRESSED PEOPLE HAVE COME TO TAKE A MUCH GREATER
AND MORE ARTICULATE INTEREST IN THE PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT AND HAVE
SOUGHT TO PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN GOVERNMENT. THE DEMAND FOR SUCH
PARTICIPATION WOULD HAVE GROWN IRRESPECTIVE OF 1997. WE BELIEVE
THAT, FAR FROM THREATENING STABILITY, WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE
MAINTENANCE OF STABILITY BY PESPONDING TO THAT DEMAND, WHICH COMES
NOT JUST FROM THE PROFESSIONAL BUT FROM THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
THE PROFESSIONAL MIDDLE CLASSES, HOWEVER, ARE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE
TO HONG KONG'S ECONOMY AND WILL NOT STAY IN A SCOIETY WHICH DOES
NOT MEET THEIR ASPIRATIONS. THEY IN PARTICULAR WILL FIND IT EASY TO
LEAVE: OUR AIM IS BY SHOWING THEM THAT THEIR ASPIRATIONS CAN BE MET
TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO STAY.
10. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TOO WILL HAVE TO PLAY ITS PART IN
CONVINCING THIS PROFESSIONAL CLASS THAT THE IR ASPIRATIONS WILL BE
MET.
11. NEVERTHELESS, WE HAVE PROCEEDED VERY CAUTIOUSLY. WE HAVE SO FAR
INTRODUCED ONLY LIMITED INDIRECT ELECTIONS: THERE HAS BEEN STRONG
CRITICISM FROM SOME QUARTERS THAT WE HAVE NOT GONE FAP ENOUGH.
WE HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT WE WISH TO SEE HOW THE PRESENT,
ᄉ
if so ARRANGEMENTS WORK BEFORE DECIDING IN 1987 WHETHER AND, WHAT FURTHER
L STEPS ARE NEEDED. THE CHINESE THEMSELVES HAVE SET UP A SYSTEM OF
CONSULTATION THROUGH THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE AND BASIC
LAW CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE, WHICH WE WELCOME. THIS WILL IN ITSELF
GENERATE A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION ON THE KIND OF STRUCTURE HONG
KONG SHOULD HAVE. WE HAVE AT opreent
MEA WHAT THE CHINESE