THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1988
CS: 1997 NOT A SIGNAL FOR DRAMATIC CHANGE
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THE REST OF THE WORLD WILL OVER THE YEARS HOPEFULLY BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HONG KONG PEOPLE ALREADY KNOW THAT 1997, ALTHOUGH SIGNIFICANT, IS NOT A SIGNAL FOR A DRAMATIC CHANGE IN THE TERRITORY'S ECONOMIC OR POLITICAL SYSTEM OR ITS LIFESTYLE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID IN BOSTON ON WEDNESDAY (DECEMBER 7).
"SOME PEOPLE REMAIN WORRIED, SOME PEOPLE WILL LEAVE BUT THE VAST MAJORITY LOVE THE PLACE AND THE LIFESTYLE AND ARE DETERMINED TO STAY AND MAKE THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS WORK, SIR DAVID SAID.
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ADDRRESS ING A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE BOSTON WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL, THE CHIEF SECRETARY NOTED THAT WHILE SOME FORMAL CHANGES WOULD OCCUR IN 1997, THERE WOULD BE
CONTINUITY FOR MANY YEARS AFTERWARDS.
THE BRITISH AND THE CHINESE HAD AGREED ON TWO FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES WHICH WOULD BE DEMONSTRATED IN 1997
THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY FROM BRITAIN TO CHINA, AND CONTINUITY, SIR DAVID SAID.
"BOTH SIDES, IN PRACTICE, WANT HONG KONG ΤΟ CONTINUE TO FUNCTION JUST AS IT DOES NOW, BUT THE CHINESE QUITE PROPERLY WANT CLEAR RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT HONG KONG WILL NO LONGER BK BRITISH BUT CHINESE, HE ADDED.
H
THE GOVERNOR WILL DEPART, ΤΟ BE RESIDENT OF CHINESE NATIONALITY AS CHIEF
"THE FLAGS WILL CHANGE. REPLACED BY A HONG KONG EXECUTIVE.
"THE BRITISH ARMY AND NAVY WILL WITHDRAW, AND WILL BE REPLACED BY A CHINESE PLA GARRISON.
"BRITISH CITIZENS WILL NO LONGER BE SEEN IN THE MOST SENIOR GOVERNMENT POSITIONS. HONG KONG CHINESE WILL OCCUPY THE 20 OR 30 MOST PROMINENT POSTS, THOUGH THIS PROCESS IS LIKELY TO HAVE DEVELOPED SO CONSIDERABLY WELL BEFORE 1997 THAT THERE WILL BE LITTLE VISIBLE CHANGE IN PERSONALITIES, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.
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"MUCH, MUCH MORE WILL NOT CHANGE,' SIR DAVID EMPHASISED.
HE SAID THE PRIVATE SECTOR WOULD BE ENTIRELY UNAFFECTED.
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"AS IT IS MOST FOREIGN CORRORATIONS OPERATING IN HONG KONG EMPLOY MANY LOCALS, OFTEN IN SENIOR POSITIONS, FOR THE VERY GOOD REASON THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE SIMPLY THE BEST FOR THE JOB.
"BUT THERE ARE MANY EXPATRIATES, AND THEIR POSITION WILL NOT BE AFFECTED ONE IOTA BY THE CHANGE IN SOVEREIGNTY,' SIR DAVID SAID.
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/THE CHIEF