TNAG-2217-FCO40-3184-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 139

54

Hong Kong people and their realization that only leaders who can

obtain the blessing of both governments can function effectively

in the transitional stage, such leaders should be able to garner

a decent level of popular support.

Ultimately, if the allied authority comprising Britain, China

and the moderate-conservative leaders is to enjoy a decent level

of popular support, it must be able to formulate and implement

short- and especially long-term policies that would address

directly to the needs of Hong Kong. It should also be capable of

withstanding political challenges within the territory, dealing

with serious problems, and tackling with tough issues. All this

would to a certain extent alleviate the problem of

'ungovernability' in the latter part of the transitional period

and lay the necessary (though not sufficient) foundation for

possible progress in the future.

Conclusion

To effectively deal with the problem of 'ungovernability' in

Hong Kong in the twilight of colonial rule, two requisites are

imperative, viz., the consolidation of an allied, albeit messy,

political authority in Hong Kong and the formulation and

implementation of a policy program which addresses to the major

problems plaguing the territory before and even after 1997. The

two requisites are closely related as long-term policy objectives

can only be devised and implemented by a strengthened and

expanded political authority. Compared to the policy program, the

1