3.17.
If so,
between central and regional exigency which become manifest in incompatible demands being made by legal ethic and political ethic. so, will it truly be law which is supreme in Hong Kong? Will the SAR have power to reach a decision irrespective of CPG interests? will it do so, or will officials be subject to guidelines or orders given at the central political level? Will Hong Kong, China delegations at international economic meetings be free to distance themselves from a PRC position, for example?
If
In discussions with Hong Kong figures in June 1984, before the signing of the Joint Declaration, Deng Xiaoping made some points which I believe are relevant here:-
"We have talked about two systems in one country for some
years
Some people are still worried whether the policy will change. I say it will not. The key factor is whether the policy is correct or not. If it is correct, it will not change. If it is not correct, it might change
Not to believe in the ability of the Chinese people to administer Hong Kong well is a mentality left over by the old colonialists
Over the past century and a half, the Chinese people were looked down upon and insulted by foreigners All Chinese at least have a sense of pride in the Chinese nation, no matter what clothes they wear or what stand they take. The Chinese residents in Hong Kong have this sense of national pride too [C]onditions must be created for Hong Kong residents to take over the government smoothly. [I] hope that people of all walks of life in Hong Kong will make efforts towards
this end."
3.18.
The reference to the involvement of Hong Kong people from all walks of life is important. The role of Hong Kong people in their own future has yet to be defined. What, for example, are to be the roles of political groups, pressure groups, and representative organisations in deciding what is right for Hong Kong? And how will China respond to them? How accurate is the following:
But,
"On the whole, it seems that pressure groups and their leaders,
notwithstanding the generally unfavourable and ambivalent attitudes toward them, have a definite role to play in this particular juncture of political development in Hong Kong. it also appears that pressure tactics per se or as a single tactic are not sufficient to 'legitimately' entrench pressure groups in the institutional structure. An entrenched status can most probably be obtained if the pressure groups can meet 'mainstream' institutional politics at least halfway and make compromises with
In the process, the radical thrust of pressure1 politics would inevitably have to be at least partially blunted.
it.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.