1988-01-25 18:39 COMMS. OFFICE (GOV'T HSE)
different
direction, such
as
852 5 845 0995 P.06 during the
Revolution, when China was pursuing a
closed
Culturai
door,
isolationist policy and experimenting with some of the most extreme forms of radicalism which have ever been tried.
never
So.
our
The People's Republic has always had the power to change substantially our way of life in Hong Kong but has
Nor
in has China interfered don e administration. The price of our potential vulnerability has therefore been limited. We have had to accept that independence is out. But we have been free to develop our own society and administer it on our own.
Nor is freedom from interference from China, the only unusual feature of Hong Kong's curious political and geographical position. It should not be forgotten that Hong Kong is very different from Britain as well as being very different from China. Hong Kong, despite the fact
that it is a dependent territory, complete autonomy in the management of its economic, fiscal
and social policies.
has
enjoyed almost