TNAG-0753-FCO40-957-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 70

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general doubts about what will happen after 1997 which

might otherwise sap confidence and undermine the

prosperity of Hong Kong.

III. Other Problems

In addition to measures aimed specifically at overcoming

the problem of 1997, there are other steps that any

British Government will probably wish to take in

fulfilment of our continuing responsibility for the

good government and well-being of hong kong • ressure

A

to take these steps come over a period of time,

and partly from the UK and paly 1honong kong. They

will include:

IV.

a. establishing of rehensive social

security system;

L..

b. encouraging the development of effective

trades unions, and improving legislation in

the labour field;

c. giving people in hong kong a more effective

voice in the way the territory is run;

Likely Chinese Attitudes

This section would begin by arguing that since China

derives considerable economic benefit from the present

set-up, and since she does not find the political cost

unacceptable, it can be assumed that she will see it as

in her best interest to accept the status quo for the

foreseeable future. This being so, her objectives in

Hong Kong for the next decade or so are likely to be:

a. to derive the maximum economic advantage

from the situation, in the context of the

modernisation policy that has been announced as

/the

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