AIDE MEMOIRE
FOCUSING HONG KONG AS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY
Background
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Hong Kong's long term safeguard and "insurance" depends on it remaining a truly international centre. It is important that international as well as domestic confidence should remain
strong. The two are closely linked; nonetheless, so far the emphasis in Hong Kong has, understandably, been on domestic
confidence, with less thought about the face Hong Kong shows to
the rest of the world. In time the rebuilding of local
confidence may fortify Hong Kong's international standing; but this will inevitably take time.
The Benefits
What is needed is a united endeavour to maintain and improve Hong Kong's reputation and position as an international city of enduring importance up to and beyond 1997. Besides giving a sense of purpose, unity and pride to the 'pro-Hong Kong' movement, a campaign of this sort would bring with it the ingredients of local confidence-boosting and protection-ensuring
necessary for a viable future.
Such benefits would include:
* Hong Kong would remain of immense value to China, and
China will tend to protect what it values; Hong Kong's ability to assist in the development of southern China
would be particularly valuable.
-*
The standard of living of Hong Kong's people would be
maintained by the continued membership of the world
economic community and by adherence to international
standards and expectations.