TNAG-1310-FCO40-1667-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 136

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OTHER WAYS WERE BEING EXPLORED TO SECURE THE ASSURANCES NECESSARY FOR THE CONTINUATION OF HONG KONG'S STABILITY, PROSPERTY AND WAY IT OF LIFE AND, ALTHOUGH HONG KONG WOULD BECOME A PART OF CHINA, WOULD ENJOY, AS A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION, A HIGH DEGREE

OF AUTONOMY.

THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP CLAIM THAT THEY WISH EXISTING SYSTEMS AND FREEDOMS IN HONG KONG AND THE FREE MARKET ECONOMY TO REMAIN FUNDAMENTALLY UNCHANGED FOR AT LEAST 50 YEARS AFTER 1997.

HONG KONG HAS ENJOYED A CONSTITUTIONAL LINK WITH THE BRITISH CROWN FOR 143 YEARS. THIS LINK HAS PROVIDED AN EFFECTIVE EXTERNAL INSULATOR AGAINST INTERFERENCE FROM THE RULING GOVERNMENT ON THE MAINLAND, DESPITE THE TURBULENCE WHICH HAS CHARACTERISED CHINA'S HISTORY FOR SO MANY YEARS AND DESPITE THE ESSENTIAL INCOMPATIBILITY OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM PREVAILING IN PRESENT DAY CHINA, ON THE ONE HAND, AND THE LIBERAL TRADITIONS OF A CAPITALIST SOCIETY, ON THE OTHER.

IT IS NOW SUGGESTED THAT THIS LINK SHOULD BE REMOVED BUT THAT, IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY FOR HONG KONG UNDER CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY, THERE WOULD BE A DEVOLUTION OF POWER FROM THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT TO THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION VIA A BASIC LAW TO BE PROMULGATED IN THE EARLY 1990'S. HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE BEING ASKED TO ACCEPT, IN OTHER WORDS, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL RESUME SOVEREIGNTY AND EXERCISE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OVER THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG AFTER 1997, AGAINST A PROMISE THAT HONG KONG'S EXISTING SYSTEMS AND ACCUSTOMED LIFE STYLE WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.

THAT

BUT MANY ANXIOUS QUESTIONS SPRING TO MIND TO WHICH NO SATISFACTORY ANSWERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN AS YET. FOR INSTANCE.

WILL THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE BASIC LAW BE ENSHRINED IN THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT? IF NOT, WOULD NOT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT RUN THE RISK OF SIGNING AN AGREEMENT WHICH THE CHINESE SIDE MAY LATER UNILATERALLY ALTER ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT IS IN CONFLICT WITH

THE BASIC LAW?

IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, THE MORE DETAILED THE AGREEMENT, THE MORE THAT THE BASIC LAW IS COMPATIBLE WITH IT AND THE MORE BINDING IT IS IN FORM, THE MORE LIKELY THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL FIND IT ACCEPTABLE IN THE BELIEF THAT THE CHINESE ARE MORE LIKELY

TO HONOUR IT. THUS, IF THE AGREEMENT IS TO BE SIGNED BEFORE THE BASIC LAW IS PROMULGATED, SHOULD NOT PARL LAMENT WITHHOLD RATIFICATION

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UNTIL THE DETAILS OF THE BASIC LAW ARE KNOWN?

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