RESTRICTED
21.
The
Chinese officials promised the URBCO delegation in April that China would prove to the people of Hong Kong its consistency in policy through practical actions within the 13 years to 1997. people of Hong Kong were urged to look upon China's economic development in that period as an assurance of their own future. Their confidence would gradually grow as they took note of policy changes on the mainland in that time. Similarly an educationalists group were told that China would support the Hong Kong dollar if there were a financial crisis during the transitional period, provided the problem was purely economical and the UK and Hong Kong governments had failed to put things right.
22.
On 14 May Deng Yingchao gave an interview to Hong Kong and Macao supporters at which she said: "I would like to call upon Hong Kong compatriots to set their minds completely at ease. Our plan to resolve the Hong Kong issue will not bring any harm to any circle in Hong Kong.
11
23. In his address to the NPC on 15 May Zhao Ziyang stated that "in order to maintain the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong, a series of special policies towards it will be adopted upon the resumption of China's exercise of sovereignty". They would remain unchanged for fifty years. They had been formulated after taking into full consideration the history and realities of Hong Kong. They were in the fundamental interests of the people of the whole country, including the compatriots in Hong Kong. They were realistic and reasonable.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.