TNAG-1498-FCO40-2056-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 155

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could assure me categorically, try to interfere in the administration of Hong Kong.

The Future

10.

"

We exchanged notes on implementation. Li was markedly upbeat. The economy had turned up; the Land Commission was going splendidly (I agreed): Sun was a good chap and Li's advice to him was to act in such a way to sustain the property market. Generally one should not get too fussed about the problem of political structures. Li had a feeling that this would work out. While Hong Kong had started out with a

Colonial system there had been a considerable number of modifications in the 1960's and 1970's, generally justified. One should try to maintain the main elements of the existing

system.

11.

As regards the aspirations of the Hong Kong people, Li thought himself that there was on the one side a small group of people with strongly held views (articulated with particular force by one individual although, he added quickly, Martin

-

Lee was a great personal friend). On the other side stood the great silent majority. I said my analysis was different: there were two ends of the spectrum: those who spoke in "nothing but Westminster" terms and those at the other end who said that Hong Kong did not need any politics at all, and that it could survive as a purely economic machine. That too was off beam. In between stood the silent majority. This certainly existed; in my view it was relatively cautious; but it wanted to be sure that the Joint Declaration would mean in

practice what it said; and it needed to know that its views and feelings would continue to be articulated upwards.

12.

system.

:

1

7.

I endorsed what Li said about a much modified colonial It was not what it seemed on paper;

a

sophisticated system of checks and balances; components should not be lightly thrown away.

it cont it contained.

and the main

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