So.
Hong
The situation has changed, of course, economically. Kong is now tied very closely to booming mainland China, particularly the south of it, and one would hope that that would go on and that, regardless of
regardless of these very serious political differences, Hong Kong will continue to flourish because China is flourishing and because the money is coming in from all over the world. If that is so, then in the longer term I 'hopè historians will be able to say that, although these constitutional differences were dreadful troubles at the time, they were lesser things compared with the growing prosperity of China and Hong Kong. They will somehow dwindle in importance. But that is not to say that a very heavy price will be paid for Hong Kong and for us too in Britain if we pursue the present course. We shall pay for it now, Hong Kong will pay for it in the future, and we shall go on paying for it to some extent after 1997.
Chairman: Our final question will be on the longer term. Mr Wareing, do you just want one more question on the immediate issues?
Mr Robert Wareing:
Government's
You have argued very persuasively, Sir Percy, For a reversal of Government policy now, of the present British Government's policy now. You say in your statement that a considerable proportion, if I can paraphrase it, of the responsibility rests with the policy pursued by the British and Hong Kong Governments since October 1992.
I put it to you that the question of the liberty of people like Martin Leigh, who after all has been pressing for democracy for decades, seems to have been completely ignored by the British Government in 1983/4. Do you not feel yourself that the British Government of 1983/4 and those who advised it, including yourself obviously, bear a very big responsibility for the present impasse, notwithstanding the arguments that you have persuasively put against the policies being pressed forward now by the Governor? Sir Percy Cradock: Mr Wareing, I am sorry to disagree with you so totally, but I could not disagree more. I believe
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