TNAG-1236-FCO40-1549-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 91

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To recover sovereignty over HK and to maintain prosperity and stability there, are the two fundamental

principles of the Chinese Government, he said. He also

reaffirmed the idea of "HK under the administration of the

HK people".

In his conversation, he jokingly said that he would not mind serving as the governor of HK, only if 1997 was not that far away. But he continued to say that this in any case would be contrary to China's principle in not sending people from China to administer HK.

Mr Ke commented that people should rest assured that movements like the Big Leap Forward or the Cultural Revolution would not happen in HK. The past mistakes would

not be repeated in China, much less in HK.

In answer to queries, Mr Ke said he was confident

with the idea of HK under the administration of the HK

people. HK has fared very well under the British, and so will it under the HK people. At present, many ideas are in the outline only. Details need to be discussed by the HK people themselves. He hoped the HK people could make known their views on HK's future more often.

Although there were rumours that Mr Ke would take up the post as First Director of the Xinhua News Agency, HK Branch, he said his next posting was still not known yet.

According to well-informed sources, the next Chinese Ambassador will be Mr Chen Zhaoyuan who has served as Ambassador in Spain, India and Nicaragua. But this has not been confirmed by the Chinese Embassy or the Xinhua News

Agency.