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5.
learn
Some respondents opined that Hong Kong reporters should lesson from the incident and bear in mind the different notions of press freedom in China. They pointed out that the media in China was viewed as the mouthpiece of the government and reporters were expected to conform and not to be critical. Some believed that the arrest was used by China as a warning to foreign reporters and
show its power over Hong Kong people. According to them, the quick release of the reporter, at the time of the intensifying Sino-British dispute, was
was an act to attract public appeal.
to
CONSULTATION PAPER ON RETIREMENT PROTECTION
6.
Many respondents welcomed the proposed retirement protection scheme and found the rates of contribution reasonable.
Some of them said that more should be done to take care of middle-aged workers who were approaching the age of retirement.
Some suggested that the age for receiving benefits should be lowered to 60, which was considered by respondents as the normal retirement age.
1.
Some respondents pointed out that in order to fully implement the scheme and to ensure that workers would be able to receive the benefits, the Government should act as guarantor in case of default. Some of them suggested that a compensation fund should also be in place to avoid evasion of responsibility by unethical employers. Many respondents felt that the Government should take the issue up
with China and seek its confirmation that the scheme could extend beyond 1997.
US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
8.
Most respondents had expected the victory of Mr Bill Clinton as this had been reflected in almost all the opinion polls in the US.
Many of them were concerned that Mr Clinton might adopt а firmer stand against China and his agreement to extend China's MFN status would very likely be conditional. Some thought that US interest rates might rise and that Hong Kong would have to follow suit under the US-HK dollar peg. This could hit the property market, according to respondents, and lead to a downturn in the economy. Respondents from the business sector were worried that the US trade policy towards China would become more protectionistic, which could in turn affect Hong Kong's export trade.
Q.
Nevertheless, respondents felt in
general that China remained a major market that provided numerous opportunities for US businessmen, and therefore an important force that the US would depend on for
recovery. They believed that Mr
and would try
economic
Clinton would be practical
Sino-American relations.
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City and New Territories Administration
6 November 1992
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