TNAG-1356-FCO40-1797-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 10

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open door policy and modernization drive before and after

1997, and that China's leadership may show later on signs of

inconsistency and change in her open door policy. My answer

to that is simple and direct: it is a matter of faith,

confidence and optimism in the future of China and her one

billion people. China needs the rest of the world and the

rest of the world needs China. Furthermore, both the Chinese

and the British Governments have registered the Sino-British

Joint Declaration on Hong Kong at the United Nations, and it

is thus a binding international instrument.

Both Britain and China will have to unfailingly

demonstrate that they are fully implementing the spirit and

intention of the Joint Declaration in order to set at rest

the hearts and minds of Hong Kong people.

Other people have expressed concern as to whether

Hong Kong will be able to cope with the rapid changes towards

a high degree of autonomy that will take place. My answer is

in the affirmative, that although the situation has been

thrust upon us by history, we must and will make a success

out of it.

Civic and political education of the Hong Kong

public should be a matter of the utmost importance. We will

have to inform and engage community affairs groups and

incerested citizens on key issues as they arise. The more

active public interest there is in Hong Kong political

/affairs