TNAG-1321-FCO40-1727-Future-of-Hong-Kong-opinion-polls-and-surveys-1984 — Page 298

Extract from interview with Huan Xiang

published in "DER SPIEGEL", no. 52/83

STS 45/84

C

SPIEGEL: The British would be very happy to do that' with Hong Kong

if it meant that they could keep their colony. What is the difference

between British Hong Kong and the Russians Far East provinces?

HUAN : First, China actually ceded the Russian Far East provices by means

of treaties, whereas 96 per cent of Hong Kong is only leased, and the lease ̈

for Hong Kong ends in 1997. The British have no right whatsoever to remain there

after that. Second, 98 per cent of Hong Kong's population is Chinese,

whereas there are no longer any Chinese living in the Russian-occupied Far East

provinces these days, only Russians.

•

SPIEGEL: But although they may be Chinese, the people of Hong Kong quite

clearly do not want to be governed by the People's Republic of China. That could easily be established by public opinion poll. Is Peking prepared to accept such an opinion poll?

HUAN: NO. This is a matter of a lease, and the area under lease must in any

event be given back on the due date. It clearly goes without saying that the

ceded areas must also be given back, since 98 per cent of the population is

Chinese. Why should we hold a public opinion poll there? There is no

justification whatsoever for doing so. If a Hong Kong Chinese does not want

to live under the rule of the People's Republic, he will then emigrate.

*

China ceded the actual island of Hong Kong and the mainland area of Kowloon "for all time" and leased the "New Territories", which now belong

to Hong Kong, for 99 years.

Translator's note:

i.e. ret! the territory in question but recognise that it was wrested from China by "unfair treaties".