TNAG-1036-FCO40-1286-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 74

I.

23 Jan 81

U 3

PRC

HONG KONG COMMUNIST PRESS

If any element of the above situation occurred, Communist China could quote the fifth item of the declaration and take Hong Kong back at once. Under normal circumstances, Communist China is not in a hurry to take Hong Kong back. Besides, there are very great discrepancies between Hong Kong and the mainland in the standard of living, style of liv- ing and ideology. The 15 years between the announcement of taking back and the actual taking back is precisely the transitional period needed for adaptation.

Second, if Britain's rule in Hong Kong is prolonged after 1997, Communist China will be censured by the Soviet Union and the East European countries, it will draw no distinc- tion between itself and the Qing regime in the 19th century, and its reputation will be damaged in the Third World. (See the 129th edition of QISHI NIANDAI.) These words not only represent groundless fears, but they are also not in line with the facts. Since 1949, Communist China has tacitly consented to British rule in Hong Kong. Does it mean that this can be done before 1997 but will be beneath the country's dignity after 1997? Where is the logic of reasoning? Since Communist China does not recognize the treaty signed between the Qing government and Britain in 1898, the date 1997 is basically mean- ingless. It is irrational to mention the current method of handling Hong Kong with the Qing regime in the same breath. At that time, the initiative lay with Britain. was no other alternative but to cede Hong Kong; now, the alternative lies with Communist China. How can we say that it is humiliating the nation and forfeiting its sovereignty when it proceeds from the interests of the nation and allows a long-existent historical fact to temporarily continue?

Epilogue

There

The above-mentioned proposed solution is based on a presumption, that is Communist China is willing to let Britain continue to rule Hong Kong and that Britain is also happy to do so.

Leaving Britain aside, up to now, it is still not clear whether or not Communist China has this intention. All along, Communist China has only vaguely indicated to in- vestors that they do not have to worry. At the same time, Communist China's companies have invested larges sums of money in the property markets, displaying an attitude of

That is all. accepting Hong Kong's present situation.

It is not known whether or not Communist China has a plan for solving Hong Kong's poli- tical future. If Communist China hopes to maintain Hong Kong's present economic situa- tion, but is not willing to prolong Britain's rule, a comparatively practical method is to open up Hong Kong as a special autonomous district. Besides using Communist China's national emblem, Hong Kong will be protected by China in the event of foreign invasion. Apart from giving greater autonomous rights to the Hong Kong people, everything else would remain the same. It is possible for Hong Kong to become a special autonomous district. However, the Hong Kong people lack political experience. Once autonomy is imposed, chaos

this will also affect the could easily emerge; if Communist China ever "intervenes,

rent economic situation. This is also a difficult problem to solve.

cur-

As a Chinese, the author naturally hopes Hong Kong will return to the motherland some day. However, it seems more appropriate to maintain the present situation at least until the 21st century. The above-mentioned proposed solution is perhaps worthy of consideration.

TA KUNG PAO: CHINA PROVIDES OFFSHORE OIL INSURANCE

HK220951 Hong Kong TA KUNG PAO in Chinese 19 Jan 81 p 1

[Report by special reporter "China Provides Offshore Oil Insurance--English, French and Japanese Enterprises Hold Talks on Investment Insurance"]

[Text] Beijing, 18 Jan--China is enthusiastically developing offshore oil and natural gas industries. Recently, the first exploratory well was drilled jointly by China and France to explore and develop offshore oil in the northeast of the Beibu Gulf. [paragraph continues]

E