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HONG KONG & MACAO
Concerning the economic plan, there is news that the CPC estimates that before 1997, the Hong Kong's economy will continue to prosper. Relevant documents of the economic plan give two reasons to support this conclusion: One, Britain will try its best to ensure its economic interests in Hong Kong during these seven years. Two, the view is that Hong Kong people also would like to make more money before they leave, and the method is to encourage big corporate firms to stay in Hong Kong.
Sources say the CPC's "plan" believes the Chinese- funded firms that deserve expansion should do so; and those that do not should be eliminated. There will be a general shrinkage on the part of Chinese capital to make room for Hong Kong and foreign capital. Voluntary shrinkage does not mean giving up development, but concentrating on long-term manufacturing investment, cutting back on trading firms, and pulling out of stock speculation and property deals in order to benefit tradi- tional agents in these fields. There will be no competition from Chinese-funded firms in these areas.
Important Persons of the State Council Hong Kong and Macao Office, Foreign Ministry and the XINHUA News Agency Attended the Meeting; The Meeting Has Other Important Agendas
In Beijing, this author consulted a well-informed person who had participated in the meeting about the stories reported by Hong Kong newspapers. He refused to comment, but said the agendas most recently discussed in Beijing definitely were not what Hong Kong had reported. What was discussed was China's work in all areas during and several years after the transition of Hong Kong. Participants included the responsible per- sons of the State Council Hong Kong and Macao Office, the Foreign Ministry, and the XINHUA Agency Hong Kong Branch. Hong Kong media reports did not report some of the participants, and misspelled the names of some others.
Deng Xiaoping's Instructions Remain the Guidelines for the CPC's Work on Hong Kong and Macao
The CPC's work on Hong Kong and Macao recently has been under Deng Xiaoping's direct charge, but most recently Jiang Zemin and Li Peng have been playing a very important role in decisionmaking.
The official said the CPC believes that, for a while in the future the most important element is people. Deng Xiaoping has pointed out recently that for Hong Kong to remain stable, apart from mainland policy remaining unchanged, talented Hong Kong people must be enlisted to run Hong Kong. Only capable people can keep Hong Kong stable. He also said that loving the country means loving the whole country and Hong Kong. Capable people must first love Hong Kong and must be dedicated to its stability and proseprity. Now is the time to recruit talent in this area.
FBIS-CIII-90-212
1 November 1990
The meeting believes that the late Liao Chengzhi's concepts about the work on Hong Kong has proved effective. Regarding the united front work and making friends, there have been criticisms that the earlier stage of the work of a certain responsible person of XINHUA New Agency Hong Kong Branch "targeted the upper classes and not the lower ones; the rich and not the poor; and the rightist and not the leftist." The eyes were focused on the upper circles and the rich, and many old friends were left out in the cold. Morcover ideological, patriotic, and nationalist education and transmission were slighted. A high-level official said: Regarding estab- lishing ties with Hong Kong people, it is of course wrong to be "pro-left and narrow in base," but can we say therefore that being "pro-right and narrow in base" is good? Without the wide grass roots, can we still say the base of solidarity is sufficiently wide? He said: Some friends have repeatedly advised the CPC on unifying all circles and strata, and that it should not confine the work to a narrow base.
Jiang Zemin's New Concepts on the United Front Work Accordingly Jiang Zemin put forward a new concept for future united front work.
According to Jiang Zemin's concept, to unify China and realize the "one country, two systems" and to revitalize China, the Chinese people need a solid league. It has two fields, one within the Mainland China and the other outside it. Jiang Zemin said: The league within the Mainland China is with the noble goals of patriotism and supporting socialism, and one for the whole of China's laborers. The other, the league outside Mainland China, will take as the political foundation patriotism and supporting China's unification. Hong Kong falls within the scope of the latter league.
Jiang Zemin said: The first league is the main body. When the main body is stable and unified, China will prosper and be strong and the league will become strong and powerful. Only thus can the second league be con- solidated, expand, thrive, and prosper.
Jiang Zemin believes that the core of the league will be the CPC. In light of China's national situation, only the CPC is capable of uniting the 1.2 billion people around one goal: Building a powerful China,
The CPC Will Concentrate on Four Areas in Work on Hong Kong
The future CPC's work in Hong Kong will concentrate on four areas:
1. Actively promote the realization of the concept “one country, two systems;" both China and Britain should strictly enforce the "Joint Declaration."
2. Try hard to maintain Hong Kong's stability and pros- perity, train talent, and work for the transitional period.
3. Actively make Hong Kong serve China's "four mod- ernizations" and unification.