CHINESE PRESS (EUROPEAN EDITIONS)
REVIEW
A Summary of Reports of Interest
7/84
25th January 1984
Extract from Sing Tao (European Edition) dated 16.1.1984
Seminar on the Future of Hong Kong
Speaker: Kong Fung Cheung, secretary of East England Chinese
Association.
B
More than a year ago, Argentina attempted to occupy the Falkland Islands by force. For the thousand odd British inhabitants on the Islands, Britain sent its troops there. This example illustrates that when it comes to making a choice between economic consideration and sovereignty, the latter will be more important. Britain was in the worse unemployment situation then, but national pride and face reigned first. Therefore when negotiations failed, it was a question of real strength.
I was nine years old when the Japanese occupied HK, though Britain was very determined to defend HK. But Japan had military force behind it. At present, the power to defend HK by Britain is weaker than that in 1941, and the military power of China nowadays exceeds that of Japan then. Thus, the so- called talks are in fact useless. HK is already in the pocket of China. The present talks are aiming at avoiding confusion during the transition period.
In the 1930's, the kuomingtong government had already proposed to nullify the unequal treaties and regain the lost territory. Now, both Chinese governments and their people demand to nullify the unequal treaties and have the lost territory recovered.
As there had been proposals to nullify the treaties as early as 50 years ago, at present it is absolutely impossible for either the Beijing government (powerful in military force) or the Taipei government (prosperous economically) to tolerate British administration in HK.
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