Problems facing Hong Kong’s new governor

Press, 2 June 1982, Page 24

Problems facing Hong Kong’s new governor

By

DING JIN

in “The Guardian,” London

The former chief clerk at the Foreign .Office, Sir Edward Youde, took over from Sir Murray Maclehose on May 20: as Governor of Hong Kong. In his’ . inaugural speech, Sir Edward reassured the public of Britain’s continued commitment tb the colony, adding that . despite concern about the New Territories' lease from China which expires in 1997, “the omens are good.” / After his arrival; Sir Edward was asked whether the Falklands®- Crisis might affect ■ t formal negotiations with China over: Hong Kong’s future; whether China’s criticism of Britain’s stand in the conflict made the 1997 problem more difficult to resolve; and whether Britain would extend the right of self-determination to the people of Hong. Kong.Sir Edward said that the Falklands crisis was not .analogous with the situation in Hong Kong, adding: “A number of exchanges have already’taken place with the Chinese and ! don’t see that.this pace needs

to be changed. This will be a step-by-step process.” The senior executive councillor, Sir Sze-Yuen Chung, echoed concern when he stressed that the 1997 issued was the most ■ important one- in Hong Kong today. The leading Englishlanguage daily, “The South China Morning Post,” said recently: “Our. people • are realistic enough ;to .understand the difficulties 'facing;. leaders . in. Peking, but they would dearly . like to see the Damocletian sword of 1997 sheathed': and something more substantial than repeated invitations to put hearts at .ease.!’ ' : ; ' Sir Edward said ’that he would defend Hong Kong’s interests in trade, especially textiles, and other relations with Britain — a sensitive issue in view of the E.E.C.’s restrictive quotas on Hong Kong’s, textile. exports, Britain’s /Nationality. Act, and the. imposition of higher school fees on foreign non-E.E.6. students. Sir Edward now has to try to maintain the momentum of

development started by his predecessor,, at a time when economic growth appears to beslowing down. During the second half of Sir Murray’s decade as Governor, • rapid expansion in public housing, education, social welfare, . and ■ new town. projects were possible largely because of the vast, revenues from land sales. However, the property market . started sliding early last year. . Moreover, the economic woes of the United States and Western Europe — Hong Kong’s main markets — are hitting manufacturers whose exports account for 59. per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. Every, aspect of life in this tiny, overcrowded colony of 5.2 million. — transport, housing, education, medical services, business; and finance — needs careful. supervision. And Sir Edward- will have to contend with corruption which is on the rise’again according to the latest report of the independent commission against corruption — Sir Murray’s greatest legacy to the colony.