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Q: Some people feel that China is already unhappy that changes to the administrative system here are too drastic, and that it would interfere should the changes become too drastic. Do you agree with this?
Sub-headlines: To change from an appointive system to an elective
A:
system
The longer the transition, the better
Article 4 of the Sino-British Joint Declaration reads: "The
Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of the People's Republic of China declare that, during the transitional period between the date of the entry into force of this Joint Declaration and 30 June 1997, the Government of the United Kingdom will be responsible for the administration of HK with the object of maintaining and preserving its economic prosperity and social stability; and that the Government of the People's Republic of China will give its cooperation in this connection." This is very important. The first point to note is that Britain will not only have to administer HK, it has to administer HK with the object of maintaining its economic prosperity and social stability. The second point we have to pay attention to is that China will give its cooperation in this connection. That is to say, China could ask: "Is there anything I could do to help?" should problems emerge over HK's stability and prosperity.
Q: Does this imply that China could interfere?
A: This implies that democracy comes second to prosperity and stability. The Chinese Government has not asked the British Government to change the local administrative system into a representative one over the next 12 years. If the representative system does not affect stability and prosperity, I don't think there is any reason for the Chinese Government to oppose this system. But it would be an entirely different thing if HK's stability and prosperity is affected!
Q: In your own opinion, is the pace of administrative reforms a bit too fast?
A: Different people have different views. But China and Britain have
At the same agreed that the colonial government cannot go beyond 1997. time, they have agreed that HK should have an elected legislature after 1997. The appointive system cannot be changed into an elective system overnight. It is generally assumed that the longer the transition period for these changes is, the better. The earlier these changes are introduced, the longer transition we would have.
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