TNAG-2225-FCO40-3196-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Australia-1991 — Page 19

guarantees

to Hong Kong.

Economic development of the

mainland in the vicinity of Hong Kong will itself be enhanced

and its outreach to if the prosperity of Hong Kong established markets throughout the world are maintained well

beyond 1997. In this sense it is in the interests of the PRC to preserve and enhance the economic power of Hong Kong as

That will only one of the world's great financial centres.

be secured if there is international confidence in the

and neutrality courts of Hong Kong to resolve with courage

disputes that will

that will inevitably arise between individuals,

corporations and with the state.

That confidence exists

now. It is essential that it should survive 1997;

Ninthly, it is inevitable that some changes

some changes will occur

after 1997 as Hong Kong becomes part of the

a time

"one country".

There may have been some who thought the 50 year promise would leave Hong Kong's legal system wholly untouched for

that period. But most must have seen the period as

cushion or bridge to a more natural association of the

Territory with the mainland behind it. Some changes in

notions of individual rights and community duties

inevitable as Hong Kong is associated with a country having quite different conceptions of human rights and scepticism about the rule of law. But this may say no more than that,

in its return to its Chinese environment, the law will adapt,

as every other feature of society must adapt.

inevitable and is natural. It need not be intolerable;

is changing. Tenthly, China itself

are

So much is

and

The world is

changing. China has invited delegations from Australia, France and Italy to inspect and report upon its human rights record. The Australian delegation in July 1991 will visit

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