GRS 1400
CONFIDENTIAL
HRK O!! ||
으!!!
RECEIVET MAGISTRY
- 5 DEC 1985
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 02120OZ FCO
TELNO 2695
OF 021005Z DECEMBER 85
INFO DESKEY 03010OZ PEKING
INDEX
MIPT: VISIT TO HONG KONG BY STATE COUNCILLOR JI PENGFE: DRAFT
BRIEF.
LINE TO TAKE
1. PLEASED THAT MR. JI IS MAKING THIS VISIT. HE IS A MOST WELCOME
GUEST. SURE THAT HE WILL FIND A WARM WELCOME.
2. HONG KONG IS A PLACE WHICH CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD PROPERLY BY
SEEING IT AT FIRST HAND. READING ABOUT HONG KONG ON PAPER CANNOT
CONVEY A COMPLETE PICTURE.
Тво
3. JOINT DECLARATION WAS WARMLY RECEIVED IN HONG KONG. THERE
WAS RELIEF AND PLEASURE THAT THE HISTORICAL PROBLEM HAD BEEN
RESOLVED. THE AGREEMENT ALSO HELD OUT THE EXCITING PROSPECT OF
ASSURANCES OF CONTINUITY IN THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS BASED
ON A PROMISE OF AHIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY. THIS SYMBOLISED THE
FAR-SIGHTED RECOGNITON BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT THAT HONG KONG'S
USEFULNESS TO CHINA AND THE WELL BEING OF ITS POPULATION DEPENDED
ON MAINTAINING ITS FREE MARKET ECONOMY AND A WAY OF LIFE VERY
DIFFERENT FROM THAT ON THE MAINLAND.
4. THE AGREEMENT PROVIDED A SOLID BASIS FOR THE FULFILMENT OF THESE
PROMISES, BUT THERE IS STILL A GREAT DEAL OF WORK TO DO BEFORE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG CAN BE SATISFIED THAT THE PROMISES WILL INDEED
BE FULFILLED.
5. MOST OBVIOUS QUALITY OF HONG KONG IS ITS DYNAMISM, HONG KONG IS
A RAPIDLY EVOLVING SOCIETY. IN 40 YEARS SINCE THE 2ND WORLD WAR, HONG KONG HAS DEVELOPED FROM A VIRTUALLY RUINED TRADING POST INTO
ONE OF THE WORLD'S MAJOR MANUFACTURING TRADING AND FINANCIAL
CENTRES. POPULATION RISEN FROM 600,000 TO 5.3 MILLION. THE
ORGANISATION OF GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES TO IT HAVE ALSO
EVOLVED CONSIDERABLY DURING THIS PERIOD. BRITISH RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG, WHICH IS FORMALLY ENSHRINED
IN ARTICLE IV OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, HAS BEEN EXEPCISED WITH
CARE AND A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS
PROCESS OF CHANGE IN THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG
DURING THIS TIME DESIGNED TO MEET THE RAPIDLY CHANGING
NEEDS OF A SOCIETY WHICH HAS UNDERGONE IN 40 YEARS THE KIND OF
DEVELOPMENT WHICH TOOK MOST OTHER SOCIETIES WELL OVER A CENTURY
TO ACHIEVE.
CONFIDENTIAL
367
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