IMPRESSIONS:
Overview:
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There is an obvious lack of understanding in media, business and government of current developments regarding the Basic Law and the likely impact on Hong Kong of 1997. There is little understanding and in many cases, complete ignorance
of what Barrie Wiggham described as the "other" eight chapters of the Basic Law: of the separate legal and financial systems. And in that ninth chapter, of the motives and realism of the move towards direct elections, or of residency rules for the Governor and senior officials post-1997. There are fears that new, additional taxes will be levied by China on Hong Kong business.
There is also an underlying attitude in Australian business and some sectors of government that there has been an information gap and a personal communications gap so far as the Hong Kong Government is concerned. That there is no form of direct contact in Australia or Hong Kong, apart from the TDC and the Industry Department neither of which they would regard as, if you like, the "political" end of the Hong Kong Government.
There is an assumption that post-1997 their businesses in Hong Kong will be at the whim of the Chinese Government; that they will have to deal direct with the Chinese Government on those business interests in Hong Kong; that there are likely to be changes in taxation and foreign investment requirements.
What was achieved:
Barrie Wiggham faced audiences which generally were cynical and uninformed. Already there is feedback (from the HKTA today, for example) that he has had an impact: that people have been (1) surprised (2) impressed by what he has had to say but, more importantly, that they are talking to their friends/colleagues about what he said, and reporting back to their various companies on his views. They are also asking a lot of questions about the outlook for Hong Kong/China: questions they did not ask before because they assumed in many cases that Hong Kong was a lost cause. While some have criticised Barrie for appearing to be too positive, and certainly many are still anxious/cynical, I think the biggest impact has been to cause business to have a second look. This has been assisted by particularly the ABC radio coverage most Australian business
My d
also now subscribes to the same monitoring service which provided us with transcripts, and these will be assessed by the strategic planners.
If Barrie has succeeded in causing a rethink as I believe he has it is because he is (1) "Mr 1997" (2) British and (3) a Hong Kong Government official, probably in that order.
In initially arranging the itinerary, the first question very often from business and media was: "Is he Chinese?" This is not a racist question but reflects simply the fact that Australia today is host to so many Asian officials/diplomats, many of whom have limited/stilted/accented English not easily understood at, for example, luncheon gatherings and particularly not easily understood for the purposes of electronic media: these people also generally stick to the prepared script they will not be drawn. to expand on their answers, and avoid the difficult question ("I don't quite understand...")