TNAG-2217-FCO40-3184-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 130

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long-term considerations and impact, and are publicly perceived

to have a certain degree of longevity (that is, it will not be

completely displaced in 1997). With the decline in the authority

of the colonial government and the inevitable end of colonial

rule, there is absolutely no chance for the colonial government

to rebuild a strong authority all by itself in the next few

years. Even though the government is highly jealous of its

political autonomy and is extremely reluctant to share power with

others, future development in Hong Kong is bound to lead to the

formation of a combined or allied authority structure in which

the colonial government constitutes only one of the components,

albeit a very important one.

Nevertheless, it is difficult to expect a government which

has monopolized power for so long and which had in the past

rarely experienced political challenges to be capable of fully

cognizant of the need to share power in order to maintain

effective rule. As a matter of fact, even though faced with

current and future difficulties, the Hong Kong government still

adopts a public posture of self-confidence, self-complacency and

arrogance. To a certain extent, this might represent an over-

reaction to the 'lame duck' image which is imposed on it by the

public. In any case, the government tends to dismiss all problems

as immaterial and incessantly reiterates its ability to grapple

with Hong Kong's problem singlehandedly. It tends to rebuff and

snub those who are seen as encroaching upon its prerogative to

make public decisions. The people of Hong Kong, China and foreign