From: x0y3510@tamuts.tamu.edu (Xuejun Yang)
Subject: Re: What do you think of Chris Patten
Organization: ~/lib/organization
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 22:40:16 GMT

In article <1992Nov20.121129.3444@kub.nl> LEE@KUB.NL (W. Lee) writes:
>In <1992Nov19.172153@disun14.epfl.ch> fung@disun14.epfl.ch writes:
>
>> Hi, to those of you bored by the VChow, KCR discussions, here is something new
>> to debate about : Chris Patten
>> 
>> Since his proposal to increase the number of directly elected legislative council
>> members, there has been a lot of reaction from all sides. In HK, people hold
>> basically one of the two views:
>> 
>> To many he is the hope to more democracy, the governor who listens to the people
>> and the first (as well as the last!) to stand up to Peking. 
>> 
>> To others (including many businessmen who value their business over democracy)
>> Patten is just another (clever) manipulator taking the opportunity to advance
>> his own career. Afterall, he doesn't have to stay in HK after '97. The six
>> million HK Chinese have no choice however.
>> 
>> Patten, the good or the bad guy? What do you think?
>> 
>> 
>> Yee Kay Fung
>> Greetings from Switzerland
>
>I think he's a good guy, cause he's (I think) the first governor who dares to
>stand up to Peking. It's about time that China is being taught a lesson.
>Personally I'm strongly against China taking HK over in 1997. I still don't 
>understand why GB is giving up HK island, wasn't it British property ?
>
>I really fear for the future of HK after 1997, cause I don't think the Chinese
>gouvernment should be trust about the 50 years non changes policy. The chinese
>gouvernment is just a bush of old men who just think of their own privileges 
>and career, and don't care about the well being of their "subjects".
>
>I know my opinion isn't worth anything, since I'm not staying in HK and won't
>have to stay in HK after 1997, so most of the troubles in the future won't 
>hurt me. But it's just my opinion that Patten is a good guy, who's the hope
>for more democracy in HK, and maybe a better future in HK.
>
>Bis spater.
>
>
>+---------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
>| W. Lee                          |                                      |
>| Tilburg University              |  There are lies, damned lies and     |
>|                                 |  Statistics  ...                     |
>| E-mail : lee@kub.nl (preferred) |                                      |
>|        : wylee@nyx.cs.du.edu    |         @}>--`--,--'--               |
>+---------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
Regardless how much you hate the CCP, one thing need to be straightened
out. HK was stolen from China by GB. China has every right to demand it
back. It aint old days any more when GB dictated everyone.

I have no objection to more democracy in HK. What's so odd about this 
whole thing of democritization pushed by Pattern (and GB government)
is the TIMING. It only poped up after the new airport talks break down.
If Britain were so nice to HK, what have they been doing in the past
100 years? and if they care about HK so much, why they did insist on
HK democracy when they discussed turning over HK to China. They forgot?
No, their REAL intention is HK 's money. By contracting most of the
projects to British companies, they hope it would give a much needed
boost to their sagging economy, creating as much debt for HK as possible
and suck as much into British treasury as possible. Their contractors
are not the first or second lowest bidders and in half a year, the price
tag shot up 10% before anything got started. Imagine how much more 
bonds HK has to issue ? And after 1997, they will leave behind a huge
debt for the Chinese and HK government. Democracy is good but it means
nothing if the economy goes downward and society has riots. Don't
be fooled by the smiling Pattern. He could be worse-meaning than the
grim-faced CCP. After all, its in the CCP 's interest to keep HK's
finance stable. so why they want to mess it up? On the other hand,
the British are leaving, they can care less about HK's future.

The BOTTOM line: HK's money. So Watch out for the smiling wolf, my
HK compatriotes.