TNAG-1307-FCO40-1664-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 130

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given to the social and cultural customs of the inhabitants and state subsidies, rather than in terms of autonomy in an administrative sense. Tibet and other autonomous regions have been able to pass legislation for example providing for a lower legal age of marriage than is nationally applicable. Similarly the 'national minorities' have been exempt from the full vigours of the birth control campaign. Such consideration has not always been the case. The attempts in the Cultural Revolution to impose uniformity are the most obvious example. 'Great Han chauvinism' is a constantly decried fault of Chinese officials in autonomous

areas.

5. During the 1950's and 1960's Organic regulations were passed for the autonomous regions and for other autonomous areas ('zhou' and counties). I attach copies of the regulations for Guangxi and for Inner Mongolia. The regulations for lower-level administrative units are similar. I do not know what the present status of these regulations is. They have not been superceded by subsequent legislation (although some is the preparation, see above paragraph three). On the other hand they were for many years irrelevant (when local government was run by Revolutionary Committees) and stand in need of some revision.

6. The question of Tibet is relevant to this enquiry. The Chinese took over Tibet under th 'Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet', signed in May 1951 (copy attached). The main features were:

a)

b)

c)

d)

The Chinese People's Government assured responsibility for defence; the PLA was to enter Tibet freely, and Tibet an forces were to be incorporated into the PLA (Articles 2, 8, 13).

Chinese control of Tibet's foreign relations (Article 14).

Maintenance of the existing political and religous structure, and of the Dalai Lama's authority. No compulsion from the Central authorities to carry out reforms. (Articles 4-7, 11).

The right of Tibetan people to exercise 'national regional autonomy under the unified leadership of the Central People's Government' (Article 3).

In 1959, after the defeat of the Tibetan revolt and the Dalai Lama's flight, both the Dalai Lama and the Chinese accused each other of having broken various terms of the Agreement. There is little doubt that the Chinese did try to force the pace of reform, and to undermine the previous religous and political structure. On the other hand they did initially adopt a fairly conciliatory attitude. For example in 1957 Chairman Mao directed that reform in Tibet should not be introduced in the Second Five Year-Plan Period (1958-62), and its introduction in the Third Five Year Plan period should depend on the wishes of the people. The destruction of the monasteries in the Cultural Revolution and China's susequent behaviour in Tibet is well known.

8. Finally I would like to point out two significant ways in which Hong Kong differs from the existing autonomous regions:

i)

ii)

CODE 18-77

the inhabitants are ethnic Chinese not minority people..

it is economically more advanced than the rest of China.

/These