TNAG-2468-FCO40-3592-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-Hong-Kong-interests-1992 — Page 180

- 7.

DENG XIAOPING'S VISIT. TO GUANGDONG PROVINCE JANUARY 19 FEBRUARY 2, AND PARTICULARLY TO SHENZHEN, THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC

ZONE ON THE SINO-HONG KONG BORDER FOCUSSED ATTENTION ON

SOUTH CHINA'S SUCCESS AND THE IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO IT FOR CHINA'S FUTURE. SUBSEQUENT TO MR. DENG'S VISIT, CHINA'S

POLITBURO PUBLICLY ISSUED AN ENDORSEMENT OF DENG'S POLICIES OF

ECONOMIC OPENNESS AND REFORM WHICH, IT STATED, SHOULD BE

FOLLOWED FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS. THESE DEVELOPMENTS SHOULD

REINFORCE THE POSITIVE TRENDS WHICH HAVE CREATED AN INTEGRATED

AND RAPIDLY GROWING MARKET-ORIENTED ECONOMY IN SOUTHERN CHINA. CONTINUED PROSPERITY OF THIS ECONOMY, WHICH ALSO INVOLVES INVESTMENTS FROM THE UNITED STATES, SOUTH KOREA AND TAIWAN

OFFERS PERHAPS THE BEST GUARANTEE THAT HONG KONG WILL REMAIN A

VITAL FINANCIAL, MANUFACTURING AND COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.

HONG KONG'S POLITICAL FUTURE

IN ITS LAST YEARS UNDER BRITISH RULE, HONG KONG IS

DEVELOPING ITS OWN UNIQUE POLITICAL IDENTITY.

SINCE THE

SIGNING OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, A PROCESS OF DEMOCRATIZATION

HAS BEGUN IN HONG KONG AND HAS BROUGHT ABOUT THE PARTIAL REALIZATION OF CHINA'S STATED INTENTION THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG THEMSELVES RULE THE TERRITORY AFTER 1997. CHINA'S

COMMITMENT IN THE JOINT DECLARATION TO A HIGH DEGREE OF

AUTONOMY FOR HONG KONG OFFERS HOPE FOR CONTINUATION OF THIS

PROCESS AFTER 1997.

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