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? Encourage a UDI Independence wo
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Page 169 7. This,
This, from their point of view, is a satisfactory formula for reconciling their ideological and nationalistic commitment to repossession with more pragmatic considerations favouring the continuance of the status quo: Hong Kong/value to them as a source of foreign exchange; as an entrepôt centre for Chinese foreign trade, visible and invisible; as an international point for exit and entry; as an observation post on the outside world, particularly the Far East and more particularly Taiwan; and as a centre for subversive activities including propaganda. The formula is consistent with the signals about
current Chinese attitudes manifest in their actions
in specific situations (see Annex A). It also carries the corollary that for China the internal affairs of the Colony are an exclusively British responsibility with the proviso that nothing should be done internally (eg in the way of developing represen- tative institutions) which could infringe the Chinese claim that Hong Kong is, and will remain, a part of
China.
·
8. But China's attitude towards the Colony has varied with the years and the fact that it is at present favourable, provided the status quo is maintained, is no argument for believing that it will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. There
are two main risks: that the ideologues will gain ascendancy over the pragmatists in the Chinese Government that succeeds the present one on the death of Mao; and that there may be a struggle for power between the two with consequent disturbances in China similar to the Cultural Revolution which spilled over into the Colony in 1967. The pragmatic arguments would seem likely to weaken over the years: on existing trends, Hong Kong would account for only 25% of China's total foreign exchange earnings by 1980 as compared with 40% in 1972, even though these earnings may well have increased in quantitative terms by as much as 15% annually. On balance a sudden
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7386 1073815 140M 5/74 Cr.P.C. Gp.839/3