41
TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1993
MR. BERGER: Will Hong Kong become the capital
of greater China? Is it already? Can you speculate on
the role of Hong Kong 50 years from now?
GOVERNOR PATTEŃ: In two minutes, it has been
said from my right.
(Laughter.)
GOVERNOR PATTEN: I think there is a general
recognition that Hong Kong is the capital of, as it were,
the overseas Chinese of the diaspora. And I think Hong
Kong will always have a very special place in the hearts
of the global Chinese community. I said that I thought
that it would play a hugely important part in the
development of the Chinese economy over the next few
years. And I think it will play an important part
culturally and socially as well.
Speculating what is going to happen 50 years
ahead is of course some pretty dangerous business. And I
am not sure how well qualified I am to do that. I recall
that is only three or four years ago that one of the most
distinguished State Department thinkers predicted the end
of history. And there seems to have been all too much
history since then.
I recall that is only I think four or five years ago that one of the leading American academics
actually, a British scholar, predicted that the Soviet
Union would continue as a strong global power. And he has
just produced another book, I noticed, which I am sure
will be full of equally valid predictions.
(Laughter.)
/GOVERNOR PATTEN: