TNAG-1842-FCO40-2617-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 155

Summary

23

46.

with

its

Hong Kong 13 a tiny, crowded territory

virtually no naturai resources except its harbour.

population has increased tenfold in the past 40 years. It

lives by trade and is very vulnerable to fluctuations

the

For decades its political

international economy.

future was uncertain, Yet Hong Kong has

in

become the 10th

largest trading entity in the world, and a major

commercial, manufacturing and financial centre. It is the

gateway to China and

Asia-Pacific region.

natural centre for the emerging

47.

This astonishing success story owes much to the

hard work and entrepreneurial ability of the people of Hong

Kong. But an important factor has also been the overall

policy adopted from the start by the post-war Hong Kong

Government: in broad terms, letting businessmen get on with

the job while providing the infrastructure that would make

this possible and the basic services needed by the

workforce. As increasing success has created more wealth

for the community; the Government has been able to set more

ambitious targets, the general standard of living has clsen

dramatically; and Hong Kong has become a modern

international city with facilities comparable to any in

Asia.