- 7.
DENG XIAOPING'S VISIT. TO GUANGDONG PROVINCE JANUARY 19 FEBRUARY 2, AND PARTICULARLY TO SHENZHEN, THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC
ZONE ON THE SINO-HONG KONG BORDER FOCUSSED ATTENTION ON
SOUTH CHINA'S SUCCESS AND THE IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO IT FOR CHINA'S FUTURE. SUBSEQUENT TO MR. DENG'S VISIT, CHINA'S
POLITBURO PUBLICLY ISSUED AN ENDORSEMENT OF DENG'S POLICIES OF
ECONOMIC OPENNESS AND REFORM WHICH, IT STATED, SHOULD BE
FOLLOWED FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS. THESE DEVELOPMENTS SHOULD
REINFORCE THE POSITIVE TRENDS WHICH HAVE CREATED AN INTEGRATED
AND RAPIDLY GROWING MARKET-ORIENTED ECONOMY IN SOUTHERN CHINA. CONTINUED PROSPERITY OF THIS ECONOMY, WHICH ALSO INVOLVES INVESTMENTS FROM THE UNITED STATES, SOUTH KOREA AND TAIWAN
OFFERS PERHAPS THE BEST GUARANTEE THAT HONG KONG WILL REMAIN A
VITAL FINANCIAL, MANUFACTURING AND COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.
HONG KONG'S POLITICAL FUTURE
IN ITS LAST YEARS UNDER BRITISH RULE, HONG KONG IS
DEVELOPING ITS OWN UNIQUE POLITICAL IDENTITY.
SINCE THE
SIGNING OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, A PROCESS OF DEMOCRATIZATION
HAS BEGUN IN HONG KONG AND HAS BROUGHT ABOUT THE PARTIAL REALIZATION OF CHINA'S STATED INTENTION THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG THEMSELVES RULE THE TERRITORY AFTER 1997. CHINA'S
COMMITMENT IN THE JOINT DECLARATION TO A HIGH DEGREE OF
AUTONOMY FOR HONG KONG OFFERS HOPE FOR CONTINUATION OF THIS
PROCESS AFTER 1997.
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