TNAG-1390-FCO40-1862-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-for-meetings-and-visits-1985 — Page 143

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actions and its administrative regulations, that it regards Hong Kong's documents as no less worthy of recognition than its own documents issued previously to residents of Hong Kong.

The other direction from which christians in Hong Kong are looking for co- operation is in the matter of training. The people of Hong Kong have had very little direct experience of democratic government, and the time for remedying this is very short. As quickly as possible, people need to be given the experience of actually operating political and administrative institutions. One suggestion, in which some of the people I spoke with showed considerable interest, was that British churches might sponsor visits to Britain by politically active Hong Kong people, specifically to enable them to gain experience of how the ins-itutions of government work, particulary at a local level. One way of doing this would be by making it possible for a number of people from Hong Kong to live for a short time with people in this country who are themselves involved in political life, so that they can gain first hand experience of what it is all about. In this matter, christian politicians at local or at national level, or congregations with access to different levels of political life, could have a great deal to offer.

I want to suggest to our churches that they take this suggestion seriously, that they actively look for relevant and appropriate invitations for people from Hong Kong, and that they make a generous contribution towards the cost of financing such visits.

Similar arrangements could be made for other institutions in society. Christian Trade Union officials might take a significant lead. The next few years will be years of critical historical change for the people of Hong Kong, and I think that christians in the United Kingdom have a clear opportunity to stand alongside their sisters and brothers of the Faith there, as with all the people they engage, in the task of building a future which can lay claim to follow God's design.

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