TNAG-2791-FCO40-4030-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China.-With-maps-1993 — Page 144

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elsewhere they are vitally interested in the character of the

electoral system to be adopted and the various details of the

constitutional and legal niceties affecting the nascent political

system. As we shall see, the Patten proposals may be said to have

the merit of giving a greater say to the people of Hong Kong in

determining the basis of the "high degree of autonomy" promised

them in the Joint Declaration.

Both the British and the Chinese claim to have special

responsibilities and duties towards the Chinese residents of Hong

Kong. In the course of the negotiations that led up to the Joint

Declaration the Chinese rejected British attempts to include Hong

Kong representation. Dismissing the so-called "three legged

stool" theory as an attempt by the British to "play the public

opinion card", the Chinese argued that they spoke for their

compatriots, the people of Hong Kong. Britain was said to

represent British interests including those of the' Hong Kong

British authorities'. In the Chinese view the British Government

and the Hong Kong British authorities were one and the same.

Consequently, the negotiations were really about the transfer of

sovereignty between two metropolitan powers. In any event the

Chinese side knew the views of their compatriots as these were

collected through The New China News Agency office from students,

workers, newspaper editors, businessmen and public figures; and,

if necessary they could consult more widely

more widely and get further

advice. Accordingly, it was at Chinese insistence that the