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Title: Interview: China's election plan for HK a positive step: former Thatcher aide
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Published: Oct 28, 2014
Author: staff
Post Date: 2014-10-28 06:35:10 by Tatarewicz
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Views: 13

LONDON, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's proposed plan for Hong Kong chief executive elections in 2017 is a positive step, and the "one country, two systems" policy has served Hong Kong "extremely well" since Britain returned Hong Kong to China in 1997, a former aide to late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has said.

"China has now kept its promise by offering universal suffrage for the 2017 elections, and that was a positive step," Charles Powell, former private secretary to Thatcher during the 1980s, told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview.

In the interview, he noted that demonstrating against the election plan is "fundamentally mistaken," which shows some demonstrators' ignorance of history.

CHINA HAS NOT GONE BACK ON ITS WORD IN ANY WAY

"I do not believe that China has gone back on its word in any way about the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law. It has proceeded in accordance with these documents," said Powell, who was a key foreign policy advisor to Thatcher when Britain agreed to return Hong Kong to China.

"Now everyone in Hong Kong has known since 1990, after the passage of the Basic Law, exactly what would happen -- There would be a gradual progress toward an elected chief executive of Hong Kong, and at some point, the universal suffrage would be introduced into the elections," he said.

"China has made clear that the choice of candidates will be made by an elected committee ... it was China's right to make that determination. It was clear in the Basic Law, and that was what would happen."

"I am afraid that those who demonstrate in Hong Kong are perhaps a little ignorant of history. They are basically younger people, who were not around at the time when the agreements were reached, have not been aware of their significance," added Powell, who was awarded a life peerage in 2000 and now sits in the British House of Lords.

"I don't dispute their right to demonstrate. Of course, people should be able to demonstrate and express their views, though I do think they should do so with due consideration for the other people of Hong Kong, so they can go about their daily businesses, their economic life for Hong Kong," he said.

GOOD SENSE NEEDED FOR YOUNG DEMONSTRATORS

Powell said the demonstrators "are fundamentally mistaken in demonstrating on this subject."

"It's been quite clear what has been decided will be what happens, and all this will not happen if they continue to demonstrate, and if Hong Kong Legislative Council does not accept the proposals that China has made for the 2017 election, (what will happen) is that the system would go back to what it was before."

"To me, that would be a step back," he said.

He suggested that the young people in Hong Kong should express their views with good sense. "When you've made your point, when you express your opinions like that, it's better then to stop, and see what can be achieved by further discussions if possible, and then continue with life."

"There are many other things that they could be involved in. After all, these are students; these are people who are preparing for their working life. They need to get back to their studies; they need to get back to preparing for what they are going to be doing in 10 or 20 years' time," he added.

"I would hope this would be a passing phase, I don't condemn it at all. I think people have their rights to do this. But they should do it with good sense and judiciousness, and realize that they should be grateful for what was achieved on their behalf in 1984, and be prepared to live with it despite the relatively minor constraints that go with it," he continued.

"ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS" SERVES HK WELL

Powell noted that Hong Kong's autonomy and development under the "one country, two systems" exceeded his expectations three decades ago.

"In the run-up to the Joint Declaration, we were not certain what sort of arrangement we would succeed in negotiating for Hong Kong. I think we exceeded our expectations in what was achieved by the Joint Declaration, exceeded our expectations in maintaining Hong Kong's particular way of life, its free economy, its market system and its freedom of speech," he said.

He said the "one country, two systems" policy has worked extremely well for Hong Kong. "It has ensured that Hong Kong can continue with its particular way of life; there is freedom of debate in Hong Kong; there is freedom to demonstrate; there is an elected Legislative Council; there are lively debates there; Hong Kong's economy has remained a market economy; Hong Kong played its role in world trade negotiations, so it has very lively systems."

"I think China has managed generally speaking very well during the years since 1997. It has obviously taken charge of foreign affairs and defense of Hong Kong, but within that, Hong Kong has very far-reaching and extensive autonomy," he said.

Powell was also impressed by Hong Kong's development since the handover. "Hong Kong has also been able to grow rapidly. It is much more prosperous now than it was at the time of the handover in 1997."

"China is growing even faster. Hong Kong is now a smaller proportion of China's economy than it was in 1997 or in 1984. Nonetheless, both parts of China have prospered enormously under the systems. For me it has been an overwhelmingly positive experience."

Nevertheless, Powell noted, there are bound to be minor problems along the way. "Not everyone has done as well as others. There are discontent about housing, about education and about transport. There is some discontent about the number of people from the rest of China who are coming down to Hong Kong and taking places in the schools, medical systems and so on. "

"But goodness me, do you know a country or region where people don't have complaints?" he said.

"On the whole, people in Hong Kong should be pretty content with both the arrangements of the Basic Law, and also with the help which China has given them at times of economic difficulty in the years since the handover," he continued. "Overall, the Joint Declaration, the Basic Law and the 'one country, two systems' have served Hong Kong and its people very well."

HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO PROSPER

Powell also believed that, while other Chinese cities are growing rapidly, Hong Kong will continue to prosper and remain competitive.

"I don't for one moment believe Hong Kong is losing its competitiveness. Hong Kong is now a smaller proportion of China's overall economy simply because China is growing so fast. But Hong Kong is still the preeminent center in Asia for financial services, legal services, and for the sophisticated parts of the economy. I believe they will continue to be so," he explained.

He said Hong Kong's biggest strengths are its rule of law and freedom. "Hong Kong has an independent rule of law. The legal system is independent. It operates in a way in which the foreign companies and Hong Kong people have confidence. As long as no one interferes with Hong Kong's rule of law, I think it will continue to prosper."

"I am absolutely certain that Hong Kong would remain one of the world's preeminent centers for financial services particularly. Maybe manufacturing and shipping, other cities of China would overtake it -- overtake it but not to destroy it. It could continue to prosper," he said. Editor: Yang Yi

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