TNAG-1310-FCO40-1667-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 57

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THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT IN THE

STRICTEST CONFIDENCE, ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN MANY STATEMENTS FROM

THE CHINESE SIDE. SIR GEOFFREY HOWE'S STATEMENT IN HONG KONG ON

20TH APRIL PUBLICLY LIFTED THE VEIL FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM THE

BRITISH SIDE ON SOME ASPECTS OF THE TALKS. INTER ALIA HE SAID THAT:

IT WOULD NOT BE REALISTIC TO THINK OF AN AGREEMENT THAT PROVIDES

FOR CONTINUED BRITISH ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997.

OTHER WAYS WERE BEING EXPLORED TO SECURE THE ASSURANCES NECESSARY

FOK THE CONTINUATION OF HONG KONG'S STABILITY, PROSPERTY AND WAY

OKF LIFE AND, ALTHOUGH HONG KONG WOULD BECOME A PART OF CHINA, IT

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 INSULAT-

OR 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 PRSENT 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, THAT

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.

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

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