ENG-1987 — Page 365

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History

HONG KONG'S 27th Governor, Sir David Wilson, took the Oaths of Office at a ceremony at the City Hall on April 9, 1987.

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He succeeded Sir Edward Youde, who died suddenly while on a visit to Peking on December 5, 1986.

Prior to his appointment as Governor of Hong Kong, Sir David Wilson played a major role in the follow up to the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong by serving as head of the British team in the Joint Liaison Group.

Sir David pledged to build on the foundations laid by his predecessor. He spoke also of the 'challenging times that lie ahead', but expressed confidence that 'Hong Kong has time and again shown that it has the will and determination to overcome difficulties and to respond to challenge and to change'.

The Sino-British negotiations began after a visit to Peking by the Prime Minister in September 1982, and concluded with the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration by the two governments in Peking on December 19, 1984.

Under the terms of the Joint Declaration, British sovereignty and jurisdiction over Hong Kong will continue to June 30, 1997, and Hong Kong will from July 1, 1997 become a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China.

For 50 years after that, Hong Kong's lifestyle will remain unchanged, and China's socialist system and policies will not be practised in the SAR.

The SAR will have its own government and legislature composed of local inhabitants and will enjoy a high degree of autonomy. However, the Central People's Government will be responsible for Hong Kong's foreign affairs and defence.

So as to ensure a smooth transition to the SAR government, certain other provisions were included in the agreement, most important among them being the setting up of the Sino-British Land Commission, and the Joint Liaison Group, which now meet regularly.

A Place from Which to Trade

Hong Kong's history has been one of material and social improvement: the expansion of city and towns by cutting into hillsides, reclaiming the land from the sea, and the building of homes, schools, hospitals and other forms of public facilities to meet the demands of the growing population.

Yet, in its early days, the territory was regarded as an uninviting prospect for settlement. The population of about 3 650 was scattered over 20 villages and hamlets and 2000 fishermen lived on board their boats in the harbour. Its mountainous terrain deficient in fertile land and water, Hong Kong possessed only one natural asset, a fine and sheltered anchorage. Largely the reason for the British presence that began in the 1840s, Victoria

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