TNAG-1440-FCO40-1924-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 201

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of the community, but the voices of all parties, and public opinions

on the interest of society as a whole. Hong Kong's democracy should

not pay the price of political disputes and unrest. The aim of practising domocracy in Hong Kong should be to ensure that the Executive

authorities will be prevented from infringing on the freedoms of the

Hong Kong residents, changing Hong Kong's life-style, impeding Hong

Kong's economic development, and hurting one sector's interest in

looking after the interest of another sector.

SECONDLY, THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE SHOULD BE

ABLE TO CO-ORDINATE THE INTEREST OF ALL SECTORS

The political system of the future SAR should be one when all

sectors enjoy a harmonious co-existence, and work with a mutual

understanding and accommodation, full co-operation and unity of

purpose to construct Hong Kong. This political system should minimise

sharp confrontation and discord among the classes. Whenever there is

any sharp confrontation, political upheaval will follow.

The good

environment for investment will also vanish. After the funds are

withdrawn, Hong Kong will become a "dead city", good for nobody.

Beijing fears more than anyone else that a "clasɛ struggle" will

occur in Hong Kong. We can believe that it S 80.

Under what conditions will there be a sharp confrontation?

Generally speaking, when the capitalists are in control of the upper echelon of power and care only for profits, when the legislation and administrative orders are "robbing the poor to benefit the rich", when the middle class has no chance for upward movements and the grass-

root level has its welfare cut and becomes more impoverished, then the political situation can hardly remain stable and the grassroot level will be up in arms. Another condition is when the grassroot level is in control of the situation and demands incessantly for "free lunches", when welfare is being inflated beyond Hong Kong's economic growth rate, when the trade unions are so powerful (like the trade

......