TNAG-1441-FCO40-1925-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 51

9

a

I think this is

jair pt it's certainly

sne HK will have to

recept.

if only they

knew!!

most probable that Peking will refuse to appoint him. If Peking respects the democratic rights of the people of Hong Kong, then Hong Kong has also to respect the sovereignty of Peking. Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy can only be fully exercised in this way. This calls for tacit understanding and mutual trust and, more importantly, mutual support. A Chief Executive who resists Peking will be of no help to the prosperity of Hong Kong. Actually during the past century or so, the Governor of Hong Kong has all along maintained a harmonious relationship with London; only in this way can Hong Kong maintain political stability and economic prosperity. All central governments over the world maintain with their regional governments a relationship similar to this. When the separatist movement appeared in Northern Ireland, the British government firmly suppressed it.

Two hundred years ago, the separatist movement in America sparked off the Civil War. There has not been even one central government in world history that encourages it regional governments to become independent political entities. It is stipulated in the Sino-British Joint

Declaration that the Hong Kong SAR will be directly under the authority of the Central Government. Only a clear-cut definition of this sub-

ordinative relationship can provide adequate safeguard to the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong. Under such a relationship, the two complement each other. On the other hand, if the subordinative

relationship is not clear, there will be less chances for Hong Kong

to become highly autonomous.