XN000022-1988-07-13 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1988

CHINA'S NEED TO EMULATE HONG KONG'S SUCCESSFUL SYSTEM IF IT WANTED TO ACHIEVE ITS NATIONAL GOALS CLOSER ΤΟ THE TARGET DATES ENVISIONED BY ITS LEADERSHIP PROVIDED MUCH BETTER ASSURANCE.

DR SOHMEN SAID THAT HONG KONG'S CONTINUED SUCCESS MUST, AS ALWAYS, DEPEND ON THE WILLINGNESS OF ITS PEOPLE TO RISE то THE CHALLENGE OF HOW TO EXPORT ITS ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS.

"IF WE CAN DO THAT, AND THEREBY HELP TO REDUCE THE GAP BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS, WE SHALL BE ALRIGHT IRRESPECTIVE OF THE PERFECTION OR IMPERFECTION OF THE BASIC LAW, HE SAID.

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HE SAID THAT WITHOUT WISHING TO DENIGRATE THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, HIS STRONGEST CRITICISM OF THE HONG KONG CONTINGENT OF THE BASIC LAW DRAFTERS, AND OF THE VARIOUS LOCAL POLITICAL GROUPINGS, WAS THAT THEY HAD SO FAR FAILED IN REACHING A COMPROMISE AS ΤΟ WHAT SHOULD BE THE MOST EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE FOR HONG KONG.

WHAT SHOULD BE ONE OF THE MOST ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A BASIC LAW HAD THUS REMAINED ONLY A SET OF LARGELY CONTRADICTORY OPTIONS.

AS A RESULT, THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WOULD BE FORCED INTO MAKING THE FINAL CHOICE FOR HONG KONG, DESPITE THEIR OBVIOUS WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO AND ACCOMMODATE LOCAL PREFERENCE.

"THIS IS THE REAL

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INEXPERIENCE, HE REMARKED.

TRAGEDY OF HONG KONG'S POLITICAL

DR SOUMEN SAID IT WAS EQUALLY REGRETTABLE THAT MANY, IF NOT MOST, OF THE COMMENTS ON THE FIRST DRAFT SIMPLY HIGHLIGHTED THE "FLAWS" WITHOUT ADDRESSING POSITIVELY AND UNEMOTIONALLY THE

UNRESOLVED ISSUES, OR SUGGESTING WORKABLE ALTERNATIVES,

ON CHINA'S PART, IT WOULD NOT ACHIEVE ITS AMBITIONS FOR 11ONG KONG IF THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE AND UNNECESSARY EMPHASIS IN THE BASIC LAW ON ASPECTS OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY, HE SAID,

DR SOIMEN WAS ALSO CRITICAL OF THE SO-CALLED "THROUGH-TRAIN" LABEL FOR THE ACTUAL TRANSITION IN 1997. "IT CONJURES UP UNPLEASANT IMAGES OF A LOCOMOTIVE RAMMING BARRIERS, HE SAID,

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HE PREFERRED THE TERM "CHANGE ог GAUGE" INSTEAD. THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT MUST OBVIOUSLY BE IDENTIFIED BEFORE JULY 1. 1997, AND BE FAMILIAR WITH ITS RESPONSIBILITIES BEFORE BRING SWORN IN.

"THIS SUGGESTS A READINESS ON THE PART OF THE UNITED KINGDOM TO PERMIT PREPARATORY ARRANGEMENTS BEING MADE IN THE TERRITORY UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT PRIOR TO THE BRITISH SURRENDER OF SOVEREIGNTY; BUT ALSO SUGGESTS THAT THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES MUST WILLINGLY ACCEPT BRITISH CO-OPERATION IN TUESE EFFORTS, HE SAID.

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