TIAL
9 RELATIONS WITH CHINA.
HONG KONG'S RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA IS DEVELOPING VERY RAPIDLY BOTH ECONOMICALLY AND IN OTHER FIELDS. CHINA HAS BECOME HONG KONG'S SECOND TRADING PARTNER AFTER THE UNITED STATES (ALTHOUGH THE CONTENT OF THAT TRADE IN EACH CASE IS VERY DIFFERENT). TEMS OF THOUSANDS OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS NOW CROSS THE BORDER INTO CHINA EVERY DAY AND LARGE NUMBERS OF CHINESE DELEGATIONS VISIT HONG KONG ANXIOUS TO LEARN THE SECRETS OF MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG IS GROWING AND MANY CHINESE PROVINCIAL CORPORATIONS ARE ACTIVE. THERE IS A GROWING INTEREST IN BECOMING PROFICIENT IN THE MAINLAND DIALECT (PUTONGHUA) AMONG THE YOUNG AND EDUCATED SECTORS IN SOCIETY. THERE REMAINS HOWEVER GREAT SENSITIVITY TO ANY MOVES BY THE CHINESE WHICH CAN BE INTERPRETED AS AN ATTEMPT TO EXTEND THE AREA OF CONTROL OR INFLUENCE OVER HONG KONG BEFORE 1997.
10. ATTITUDES TO THE U.K.
ATTITUDES IN HONG KONG TO THE UNITED KINGDOM CONTAIN A DEGREE OF AMBIVALENCE. IT IS ACCEPTED THAT BRITISH ADMINISTRATION HAS PROVIDED THE TERRITORY WITH A FAIR AND EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT WHICH STOOD AS A BUFFER AGAINST THE UPHEAVALS ON THE CHINESE MAINLAND. MANY HONG KONG CHINESE HAVE CLOSE TIES WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM AMONG THE EDUCATED AND WORKING POPULATION. (BUT AN INCREASING NUMBER NOW. LOOK TO THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA). BUT THE IDEA THAT BRITAIN IS AN ECONOMICALLY AND TROUBLED SOCIETY DIES HARD: AND RESENTMENT OVER THE NATIONALITY ACT IS STILL STRONG. FOR ALL THIS THE HOPE REMAINS THAT THE UNITED KINGDOM WILL FULFIL ITS OBLIGATION TO ADMINISTER THE TERRITORY UP TO 1997 AND THAT THERE WILL BE NO PREMATURE WITHDRAWAL OR LOSS OF INTEREST.
YOUDE
'HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RES D (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/MR RENTON
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVS MR MARTIN ASST STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
MR MALLABY CABINET OFFICE MR DRC CHRISTOPHER
CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADDOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST. MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY PUSD
3
CON DENTIAL