SECRET
1997. THERE IS SERIOUS PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THE ROLE OF TRIAD SOCIETIES IN THE CRIME WORLD, OVER OBSCENE AND VOLENT PUBLICATIONS, AND OVER COMMERC HAL CRIME: BUT ANXIETIES ABOUT THE FUTURE INCLUDE A BALANCING RESISTENCE TO PROPOSALS TO INCREASE THE POWERS OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DEAL WITH THEM, FOR FEAR THAT THESE POWERS WILL BE ABUSED AFTER 1997.
11. THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE PARTLY THE RESULT OF THE MATURING OF
HONG KONG SOCIETY, PARTLY OF CONSCIOUS GOVERNMENT POLICY TO RESPOND TO IT, AND PARTLY OF A DETERMINATION BY THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY TO
MAKE ITS VOICE HEARD ON THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW. THEY HAVE
GREATLY INCREASED THE SCOPE AND VOLATILITY OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY
IN HONG KONG. SO FAR THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO CONFIDENCE AND
STABILITY RATHER THAN VICE VERSA. BUT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE
POLITICAL PROCESS, THE MAINTENANCE OF THE CREDIBILITY AND AUTHORITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN HONG KONG AND LONDON AND HONG KONG AND PEKING WILL ALL BECOME MORE COMPLEX, AND WILL REQUIRE SENSITIVE AND IMAGINATIVE
HANDLING IN THE YEARS TO COME. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE ASSERTING THEIR RIGHT, NOT TO INDEPENDENCE, WHICH THEY KNOW THEY CANNOT HAVE, BUT TO RESPECT FOR THEIR OWN VIEWS ON THEIR FUTURE, AND TO THE **HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY** WHICH WAS PROMISED TO THEM IN
THE JOINT DECLARATHON.
12. NT WILL BE GREATLY IN THE INTERESTS OF BOTH THE UNITED KINGDOM
AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS TO SHOW UNDERSTANDING OF THESE ASPIRATIONS.
THE PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO DO SO WILL BE A STEADY EROSION OF CONFIDENCE IN THE JOINT DECLARATION.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
DEP HD/PUSD
HD/PUSD
RD (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR RENTON
PS/PUS
SIR W HARD ING
SIR J FREELAND MR WILSON
MR CROWLEY
PUSD
COPIES TO:- MR ROBERTS
NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT
LEGAL ADVISERS
MR WOOD
MR PEIRCE
LEGAL ADVISERS ASSESSMENTS STAFF
MR MALLABY CABINET OFFICE
CABINET OFFIC
MR DRC CHRISTOPHER CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET
SECRET