From: afung@world.std.com (Albert K Fung)
Subject: Re: What do you think of Chris Patten
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 07:05:16 GMT

In article <1992Dec23.194747.9794@objy.com> cw@orion.uucp (C.W. Chung) writes:

>objection from China.  China objects on the ground that Basic Laws have
>been violated by Patten's proposal in twisting and distorting the meaning
>and common understanding of the term 'functional groups'.  From China's 
>point of view, it is like unilaterally breaking an international contract.

That's the price she paid for the TAM saga - all international contracts 
became null and void. You just don't do these things and still be a member of
the international community! What Gov. Patten should have done is to declare
it invalid and start all over again rather than circling around the fringes.
After all, some of the assumptions and premises behind the BL were made
before the 6/4 episode. If she doesn't even realize that, then we've a big
problem after 1997 .......

>This could explain her outrage when she sees her counterpart as 'breaking
>the contract' in Patten's proposal, France selling of Mirages, USA selling
>of F-16s.  Now China has to 'kowtow' to USA, but don't confuse UK/France 
>with USA.  UK/France is just not in the same league of USA.  China would 
>yield to USA, and be quite 'flexible' with Japan and Russia, but she is 

Sounds like HK does have a trump card after all. Shall we urge President-elect
Clinton, President Yeltsin and Prime Minister Miasawa to join the
fray? .... :)

>Well, I think Chairman Mao would love what you have written :)

Unless I'm mistaken, I think his English was not too good. I do like his
poetry though. You can see the Kantian idealism in him. :)

>Now, isn't Martin Lee a lawyer, and Sezto Wah a headmaster, Christine Loh 
>a businesswoman, all of them are doing quite well in their field?  

I'm quite sure you're aware that there's a big difference between elected
representatives and appointed legislators.

>One of the irony of democracy is that it is mainly the elite who 
>can 'climb' to positions of power to help the poor.  The elite,
>whether the democracy advocates, government officials, professional,
>themselves could of course (and very often do) come from the poor and
>middle class families.  The education and hiring system in HK works 
>reasonably well in bringing about this kind of 'class migration'.
>So it is not all surprising to find a prosperous lawyer has a close
>relative living in public housing or other even-poorer environment.
>These elite may or may not remember what poverty is, but they could
>have exposure to what poverty is like if they are willing to try to
>find out.  It depends on the individual.

With due respect, I don't think it should be left to individuals. The sine
qua non to a functioning democracy is the "Reagan doctrine" - "trust but
verify". If I've the choice, I would try my best to elect someone who shares
my views and my aspirations. But I reserve the right to cast a vote of no
confidence whenever I feel that my representative is no longer representing 
my interest.

>
>The other side of the coin is that poor people often don't have the 
>exposure to the problems and complexities facing business, community,
>

Try them.

>that from, say Don Quixote.   Sure we know what a lion could do,
>but what happen if the subject is not a lion, but, say a rabbit.  Is it
>wise for a rabbit to show his courage by taking on a wolf?  

Not that many wolves would like to take on 6 million odd rabbits, not
to mention the 1.2 billion eagerly watching on the side line! .... :)

>I don't disagree, but my point is the assurance wouldn't mean much until
>you have a truly democratic China which respect personal right, simply 
>because it is a much bigger neighbor and also it is 'one country, two systems',
>not 'two countries, two systems'.   (Perhaps I am too much a pessimist, but 
>recall the process called Finlandization even when Finland and USSR are two
>separate countries.)

A rabbit turning a wolf into a lamb? I don't think you're a pessimist at
all. I think you're a secret admirer of the the rabbit's faith and courage. :)

The best protection for HK is an international presence and a recogonized
voice in the world community. It's not much, but it is better that pure faith!

>Indeed so. Most of the export is to USA (mostly through intermediaries 
>in HK), and that is why normal trade relationship with USA is so important, 
>and IMHO, one of the reason of China's willingness to accommodate demands 
>from USA.  IMHO, it is interesting that CG sees economic reform as a means
>of survival for CG, but many others (myself included) see the
>success of economic reform will spell the demise of the party (i.e. as the
>party we know today).

The "wolf" does have a vulnerable spot after all!

Regards,

Al Fung
SoftFab International Ltd., Cambridge, MA
Email: afung@SoftFab.COM