XN000022-1993-05-04 — Page 55

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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: