1977-05-23 — Page 27

育教僑

莫三第張七第日六初月四年巳丁夏

1977中學會考試題預習專欄

明德社主編

Economic and Public Affairs

(a) What benefit does Hong

Kong obtain by participa- ting in foreign trade?

particinating in for- By eign trade, Hong Kong en- joys the following benefits

1) The supply of food- stuffs in Hong Kong largely depends on imports from foreign countries.

2) Since Hong Kong is in lack of natural resources and minerals; raw materials and component parts are imported from foreign coun- tries for local secondary and tertiary production.

3) Hong Kong citizens can enjoy a wide variety of consumer goods imported from foreign countries.

4) By exporting goods to foreign countries, Hong Kong earns foreign exchange which improve Hong Kong's - balance of payments situa- tion. Besides, increased exporte would provide more employment opportunities to local workers, and thus domestic product level would then be raised.

5) Hong Kong's re-exports. still plays a significant part in the economy.

6) Through trade, Hong Kong could better economic relationship and cooperat-. ion with foreign countries

7) Through trade, domestic resources could be more. efficiently allocated to the lines of production in- which comparative advantare exists...

(b) What would be the eco- nomic consequences if the Hong Kong Government were to impose a tariff on all- Imports?

"If the Hong Kong Govern- ment were to impose a tariff on all imports, the following would likely to ¡occur; -

1) Since Hong Kong'a supply of foodstuffa larg ely comes from imports, a tariff on them would in- evitably make importers raise the prices. Citi- zens would have to spend more on food consumption than before.. This would · lead to a rise in general consumer price index. a result, cost of livin would be higher for citi- zers.

2) Prices of imported raw materials would be raised, and this would make the cost of indust- rial production higher.. Exporting firms would··· therefore increase the prices of their products, and so the competiting. nower of Hong Kong's ex- ports would then be weak- ened. Hence, there would be a shrink in exports, and domestic product level would slow down.

3) Prices of imported luxury goods would be in- creased, and there would be a general decrease in aggregate demand for them.

4) Citizens would buy more domestic goods rathan than imports às far as consumer goods is concerned 5) Local consumer goods industries would then be in a favourable position to commete with imports.

6) Increased consumer price index and cost of production would lead to a steady rise in general

Conse- level of prices. quently a serious inflation would likely to occur.

7) By imposing a tariff on all imports, government would surely obtain a great amount of revenue,

Section B

(a) Describe the functions of the unofficial members of the Legislative and Exe- cutive Councile.

Functions of the unoffi- dial members of the Legis- lative and Executive Counc-

1s can be described as follows -

WAH KIU YAT PO

1) Both of them are ann- ointed by the Governor to renresent the public by giving opinions, advices and surrections on legis- lative and executive mat- ters respectively.

2) The unofficial members of both councils are repre- sentatives of the community annointed for their know- ledge and experience of Hong Kong affairs..

3) Unofficial members of the Legislative Council may introduce private bills which are bills affecting a particular person, asso- ciation, or corporate body.

4) Both of them are expe- cted to express public opinions on law making/nol- loy matters respectively.

(b) At present all the un- official members of these two councils are annointed.

What are by the Governor. the merits and demerits of. having them appointed rath- er than elected.

Merits

1) The Governor can apno- int those representatives of the community who have good knowledge and experie- nce of Hong Kong affairs.

2) By annointment, compl- ex procedures of election would be avoided, and the elected expenditure would be saved.:

3) By annointment, the Governor can appoint mem- bers representing different sectors of the community,

Demerits

1) Those able representa- tives of the community with great enthusiasm may not he annointed.

2) The public may pay no concern and support to the menhers since they are not. elected.

3) Those with rood know- ledge and experience of: Hong Kong affairs may not be known by the Governor.

4) The public may feel that the members cannot represent them.

5) The public may feel that they have no share in the administration of Hong Kong.

Japan wanted to remain in good terms with both USA and Russia while invading China. 13. In 1940, after the Fall of France in Europe, Japan forced France to agree to Japanese advance towards Indochina and the East Indies in Southeast Asia for econo mic control.

14.In 1941, after failing to

reach an agreement with USA, Japan delivered a surprise attack at the Pearl Karhour and invaded British Malaya.

In the main, therefore, the failure of party government and": democracy in the 1920's resulted in Japan's pursuit of imperial- ist and aggressive foreign policies in the 1930's.

5. Describe the industrial

progress made by Germany before 1914. Show how economic developments in Europe during this period contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

Ans:

1. The years 1870 to 1875 are

called by the Germans the foundation years, with tremendous development in railway trackage, factories and shipbuilding. Industria- lization profited from political unification.

2. Germany's late entrance into

international industrial race was an advantage; she was able to start with the most modern machinery and methods, unhampered by traditionalism. 3. The German industrialists

were very inventive, effi- cient, patient with details and good at scientific organization.

1. The forms of industrial or-

ganization tended to coal- esce into "cartels". Combines made price-fixing and pro- duction-level agreements to avoid mutual destruction. Manufacturers tried to win control of all stages in the production of their own commodity. The Freat German electrical combine, the AEG thus became closely linked with mines and banks, forming companies overseas. There was severe concentra- tion of capital and econo- mic power.

5. ooal and steel industries Germany had rich coal and icon deposits, such as Saar, the fuhr and the

the

-

報日僑華

Alsace-Lorraine. By 1913. Germany had overtaken. Britain nearly 3 times.

6. development of railways

By 1910, Germany had already, constructed the longest railway mileage in Europe, reaching Russia in the east, France in the west, Austria- Hungary in the south, and the Baltic in the north. Such railway development overcame the handicapped geographical position of Germany, speeded up German internal adminis- tration, quickened the trans- port of raw materials and finished products, and

Contributed to the light- ning military operations in the two World Wars. 7. the growth of merchant

fleet By 1913, German steamship tonnage was 3 times as great as the French fleet, facilitating German economic expansion.

great.

8. chemical industry- Germany

had rich deposita of pota- ssium and high standard of scientific knowledge.. Growth of chemical industr ies was great. By 1900, German chen als provided 90% of total world exposts, 9. electrical industry

combines like Sicmens and the AEG, though started belatedly, rose rapidly, based on technological excellence, rational organ- ization, well-financed. consolidation of production and emphasis on quality. . By 1913 Germany provided a

third of the world's output and more exports than Britain and the USA combined. 10.3y 1914 Cermany was the

second largest manufacturing country in the world. Her exports had increased three- fold from 1890.

11. Between 1870 and 1913, the

productive capacity of Ger- many increased eightfold. How economic developments contributed to the First World War:

1. industrialization bred

imperialism. When the Powers struggled for colonies, conflict was projected from Europe to all over the world. For example, economic ains Were a partial cause of Germany's activities in the Ottoman Empire and Morocco, which quickened the forma- tion of the Triple Entente (Russia, Britain and France). Also, the establishment of more colonies called for the building of a larger and more powerful navy and army to protect from inva- sion. This hastened the armament race.

2. Trade competition turned free.

trade into protectionism, thereby adding more tension to the already tense inter- national circumstances. It was said that German trade rivalry with Britain had caused Britain to join

Prade France against her Competition also bred an atmosphere of hostile confrontation on the international scene,

3. Tremendous economic deve-

lopment strengthened the Powers capacity for war. Backed up by good economic resources, the Powers were in a position to pursue. stronger foreign policies, which increased interna- tional conflicts and made the Powers less willing to compromise. Economic development also contribut- ed to the armament race. 4. International finance con-

tributed to the continued pursuit of ambitious poli- cies. An example of the influence of money in poli- tics was the enormous French .loans to Tsarist Russia after

1906, which backed up the Russian government to enable her to continue the pursuit of ambitious policies abroad, especially in the Balkana. 5. It was said that tremendous

industrial growth led to over-production and over- population and necessitated the finding of new "living space". This eased the acceptability of militarist theories.

6. It has been argued that the

War was caused largely as

a result of powerful indus- trialists who desired to make huge profits out of the production of "weapons of war". Armament manufacturers Buch as Krupp in Germany or Schneider-Creusot in France, benefited from the arms race in Europe after 1900. 7. industrial development

一期星

日三廿月五年七七九一腊公年六十六國民嘟中

affected the art of warfare, making it more destructive,

e... guns, dynamite, and the building of dreadnaughts (battleships).

(To be continued)

世界史建議答案)

Ans :

胡應亮

HISTORY

(Suggested Answers to the Questions of the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination, History, 1977).

4. Why did party government

fail in Japan between 1921 and 19317 What were the effects of this failure on the foreign policy of Japan up to 19417

Reasons for the failure : 1, weaknesses of the political

parties! (a) lack of popularity and

the whole country's support parties repre- sented only urban in- terests and the land- owners and businessman of the countryside, a amall segment of the population. (b) the parties' opportunism

the parties had7fell- defined political prin- ciples. Their approach to politics was pragma- tic, not ideological. (c) lack of unity - the

parties were coalitions of diverse political groups in sectional pro- test against Meiji cen- tralization and the Choshu-Sateuna monopoly of power. Factionalism – was therefore strong. Party members often, for political survival, bargained with the Genro, the Privy Council and the higher bureaucracy. Clear. out party rule was absent. Factions shifted from. party to party. Party loyalty was rare. The vote-winning and fund- raising connections of an individual leader rather than the party's organization were more important.

(a) When parties tried to win

votes, they showed less interest in clarifying their position on nation- al issues than in culti- vating personal ties with local political leaders and in catering to the economic interests of

the local community. (e) party abuses like

corruption - candidates of the political parties advanced bribery money to voters through some "election brokers" who bought and sold votes. Corruption was widespread. The Zaibutsu financed the parties; in return the parties practised policies favourable to the Žaibutsu.

military. The rise in rice price made life difficult.

The shrinkage of other foreign

trade, the government's

policy of retrenchment and

return to the gold standard,

and the over-valuation of the

Japanese yen that 'caused

rapid exhaustion of Japan's.

credit, all deepened the

economic sufferings of the. nation.

7. Education was not up-to-date.

and western enough to aasist democratization. Only narrow patriotism was inculcated. Political education along western democratic lines was, lacking.

8. The existence of patriotic

societies (one of them has a membership of over 3 million). and youth organizations of a patriotic nature for military training agitated against party government.

9

Unrest among labour groups, the emergence of Communist groups that received world- wide fear, student movements. that held "dangerous thoughts", political assassinations, all these created unstable. circumstances, troubling the party government. The party's inability to control them invited the rise of the mili- tary.

10.The party onment.'s peaceful

foreign policy was discredit- ed in the 1920's. (a) the rise of immigration

barriers against Japan in USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

(b) the denial of Japan's

naval equality with USA and Britain in the London Conference in 1930. (c) At the Paris Peace Confer-

Ade, Japan's plea for

racial equality was denied. A stronger foreign policy by the military was therefore welcome by the Japanese, Such a stronger foreign policy was all the more urgent in view of the changing situations in Asia," such as the reorganiza- tion of the Kuomintang by 1924, the growth of anti- Japanese sentiment among Chinese leadership, the Kuo- mintang unification of China by 1928, and the re-emergence of the Soviet Union asva se military power in the Far East

in the late 1920's. 11. The assertion of Japanism and

the general reaction against, Westernization in the few decades before 1930 made the practice of democracy very unpopular.

Effects of the failure on Japan's foreign policy after. 1931:

1. Japan after, 1931 practised

a "dual diplomacy"-- on the one hand the Japanese Foreign Office assured the Western Powers of non-aggression by Japan in Asia, on the other hand military aggression was practised by military leaders in Asia.

2. On September 18, 1931, after

the bombing of the South Manchurian Railway as a pre- text, Japan's Kwantung army occupied Manchuria. Jurisdiction over the affairs on the Asian Continent was wrested from the Foreign Office and was placed under the direct control of the military..

2. ultra-nationalism and patriot-3.

ism made peaceful democratic government difficult to

run.

3. militarism and the power of the military worked against party government. There were constitutional provisions that favoured their position. The military was given direct access to the throne without going through the premier. Besides, the army and navy could prevent the formation of a cabinet by refusing their members to serve, 4. Military tradition and heri- tage was preserved intact to the 1920's, plotting against the party government. 5. Rural conservatism blocked

the smooth functioning of a democracy. Rightist elements sent pamphlets to rural areas to extoll patriotism. The peasants believed that the political parties only catered to the needs of big business. and local men of influence and neglected the rural pro- letariat. Such a conservative force was growing more and and more important, especially after the 1925 universal suffrage when most hew voters were in the countryside. 6. The economic depression that

began in 1929 discredited the party government as the government failed to curb it. Prices of silk dropped in the American market, affecting many farmers who depended their livelihood on raw silk. As many a farmer had song serving in the army or navy, discontent was spread to the

4. A puppet regime in Manchuria called Manchukuo, was set up by Japan in 1932.

5. In 1933 Japan withdrew from the League of Nations after the Lytton Commission's report about Japanese aggres- sion in Manchuria.

6. From 1933 to 1935, Japan

occupied Jéhol and Hopeh in China, turned them into demilitarized zones, then autonomous regimes, including Inner Mongolia.

7. In 1934, the Foreign Office

announced a "hands-off-China" statement, saying that Japan would oppose activities like political loans, military instructions, financial technical assistance to China. by Western Powers.

8. In the same year, Japan

announced her withdrawal from the Naval Limitation Treaty. 9.After minor clash on July 7,

1937, the Second Sino-Japanese Var began.

10. In 1936, an Anti-Comintern

Pact was signed with Germany. 11. In 1940, the Tripartite Pact

was signed with Germany and Italy. Japan obtained recp- gnition of her new order in Greater East Asia and promise of mesiątance from Germany and Italy in the event of war with USA.

12. the Soviet-Japanese Non-aggre- ssion Pact was signed in 1941.