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Hong Kong people and their realization that only leaders who can
obtain the blessing of both governments can function effectively
in the transitional stage, such leaders should be able to garner
a decent level of popular support.
Ultimately, if the allied authority comprising Britain, China
and the moderate-conservative leaders is to enjoy a decent level
of popular support, it must be able to formulate and implement
short- and especially long-term policies that would address
directly to the needs of Hong Kong. It should also be capable of
withstanding political challenges within the territory, dealing
with serious problems, and tackling with tough issues. All this
would to a certain extent alleviate the problem of
'ungovernability' in the latter part of the transitional period
and lay the necessary (though not sufficient) foundation for
possible progress in the future.
Conclusion
To effectively deal with the problem of 'ungovernability' in
Hong Kong in the twilight of colonial rule, two requisites are
imperative, viz., the consolidation of an allied, albeit messy,
political authority in Hong Kong and the formulation and
implementation of a policy program which addresses to the major
problems plaguing the territory before and even after 1997. The
two requisites are closely related as long-term policy objectives
can only be devised and implemented by a strengthened and
expanded political authority. Compared to the policy program, the
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