TNAG-1247-FCO40-1561-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 42

CONFIDENTIAL

TRANSLATION

HKK04012

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

M

- 7 JUN 1983

DESK OFACE 18/E/838ISTRY INDEX

PA

Taken

(70)

On the issue of China's recovering sovereignty over Hong Kong

Hong Kong is CHINA's territory. It was robbed and occupied forcibly by the British under the threat of gunboats after the Opium War, thus becoming a British colony.

During the 1911 Revolution, even Dr SUN Yat-sen did not recognize the unequal treates imposed upon the Chinese people by imperialism. Since

its founding, new CHINA has expressed its attitude towards the Hong Kong

issue on a number of occasions, considering that the issue of Hong Kong is historical and is to be solved when the time is ripe. Hence, it is a matter of course that CHINA is to recover the sovereignty over Hong Kong

in 1997.

On the Issue of Hong Kong To Be Ruled By Hong Kong People, maintaining Prosperity

On recovery of sovereignty, (Hong Kong) will be demarcated as a

Special Administrative Region (SAR), to be ruled by Hong Kong people. The

social system, life style, Hong Kong as a free port, international trade,

Hong Kong as a financial centre etc. will remain as they are. Basically,

it is feasible to maintain prosperity in Hong Kong. However, there remain the following queries :-

1.

How (are we going) to produce the Hong Kong people who are

to rule Hong Kong ? How are we going to decide on the

choice of administrative personnel, members of the

Executive Council, the Legislative Council and the

Urban Council?

2.

How is the law to be amended and enacted for a self-ruled

Hong Kong? Will Hong Kong be ruled by law, just as

it is now? Will the Beijing Government in the interior

interfere?

/.....