administer the Territory and plan for its future."
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(5) "We recognise that the administration of Hong Kong until 1997
should remain firmly a United Kingdom responsibility. committed to carrying out this responsibility in full."
are
On 18th April, 1990, the British Government said again, within the context of a "more rapid process of democratisation", that it hoped that the Chinese Government will in due course conclude that a faster pace of development would be desirable".
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4.19.
The PRC Position
Of
(1) "Both sides should jointly abide by the Joint Declaration. In
short, changes had better be avoided if they are unnecessary. course, some things in Hong Kong are changing already. However, are these changes desirable? What will happen as a result of these changes?
It is unambiguously stated in the Sino-British Joint Declaration that Hong Kong's current social system, economic system, and lifestyle will remain unchanged in the 50 years following 1997. Thus, we hope that there will not be drastic changes in Hong Kong in the period prior to the takeover."
(2) "If the system of representative government [is] totally different from the political system of the future basic law, it [will] be a misfortune for China, Britain and Hong Kong. However, since the British Government is responsible for the political system reform, [I hogg] that the British [will] handle the issue in a sensible
way.
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(3) "The choice of the governmental system for the future Hong Kong
Special Administration Region [is] China's own business.
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(4) "1990 is about halfway through the transition period, and to ensure
a smooth handover of sovereignty in 1997, starting in 1990 Hong Kong should be gradually making the transition along the lines of
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the basic law.
(5) "In the period prior to the takeover period, in reforming Hong
Kong's political system, it is necessary to give thought to consistency with the Basic Law. At present, Hong Kong would be better off with few changes unless these changes are favourable to
the Basic Law.
(4) above is particularly revealing, particularly when placed in the context of the following quotation,
"We are willing to make strenuous efforts with the British
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