TNAG-1440-FCO40-1924-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 52

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1997. THERE IS SERIOUS PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THE ROLE OF TRIAD SOCIETIES IN THE CRIME WORLD, OVER OBSCENE AND VOLENT PUBLICATIONS, AND OVER COMMERC HAL CRIME: BUT ANXIETIES ABOUT THE FUTURE INCLUDE A BALANCING RESISTENCE TO PROPOSALS TO INCREASE THE POWERS OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DEAL WITH THEM, FOR FEAR THAT THESE POWERS WILL BE ABUSED AFTER 1997.

11. THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE PARTLY THE RESULT OF THE MATURING OF

HONG KONG SOCIETY, PARTLY OF CONSCIOUS GOVERNMENT POLICY TO RESPOND TO IT, AND PARTLY OF A DETERMINATION BY THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY TO

MAKE ITS VOICE HEARD ON THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW. THEY HAVE

GREATLY INCREASED THE SCOPE AND VOLATILITY OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY

IN HONG KONG. SO FAR THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO CONFIDENCE AND

STABILITY RATHER THAN VICE VERSA. BUT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE

POLITICAL PROCESS, THE MAINTENANCE OF THE CREDIBILITY AND AUTHORITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN HONG KONG AND LONDON AND HONG KONG AND PEKING WILL ALL BECOME MORE COMPLEX, AND WILL REQUIRE SENSITIVE AND IMAGINATIVE

HANDLING IN THE YEARS TO COME. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE ASSERTING THEIR RIGHT, NOT TO INDEPENDENCE, WHICH THEY KNOW THEY CANNOT HAVE, BUT TO RESPECT FOR THEIR OWN VIEWS ON THEIR FUTURE, AND TO THE **HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY** WHICH WAS PROMISED TO THEM IN

THE JOINT DECLARATHON.

12. NT WILL BE GREATLY IN THE INTERESTS OF BOTH THE UNITED KINGDOM

AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS TO SHOW UNDERSTANDING OF THESE ASPIRATIONS.

THE PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO DO SO WILL BE A STEADY EROSION OF CONFIDENCE IN THE JOINT DECLARATION.

YOUDE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

DEP HD/PUSD

HD/PUSD

RD (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR RENTON

PS/PUS

SIR W HARD ING

SIR J FREELAND MR WILSON

MR CROWLEY

PUSD

COPIES TO:- MR ROBERTS

NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT

LEGAL ADVISERS

MR WOOD

MR PEIRCE

LEGAL ADVISERS ASSESSMENTS STAFF

MR MALLABY CABINET OFFICE

CABINET OFFIC

MR DRC CHRISTOPHER CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET

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