TNAG-1873-FCO40-2661-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1989 — Page 96

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town centre has become larger with more new roads and buildings. Somewhat less encouraging is that the condition of those buildings which were brand new about two years ago has deteriorated significantly, implying that not sufficient attention has been paid to maintenance

(3) and repair

5.

The layout of the SSEZ is well designed and is apparently influenced by modern town planning concepts. By comparison the provision of infrastructural facilities

and services in the SSEZ is much better than in the rest

of the Pearl River Delta region.

6.

The SSEZ is also under greater influence from

the central government than the Pearl River Delta counties, as evidenced by a much higher proportion of

Putonghua speaking officials. Also, the SSEZ is more "cosmopolitan". With a very small native population when

the zone was set up in 1980, the current population in the

SSEZ is a mixture originating from all over China.

7.

When being asked about a recent press report

suggesting that the SSEZ might soon attain the status of a

province, the Shenzhen officials were not able to confirm

or deny it, though Mr Yang of the Import and Export

Department claimed that the trend towards greater degree

of economic autonomy for the SSEZ was likely to

(3)

Maintenance and repair belong to those services which are traditionally not considered productive by socialist economies.

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