THE Civic Association welcomes the views of Mr Larry Yung Chi-kin, CITIC Pacific chairman, on the importance of Hong Kong maintaining a high degree of autonomy after 1997, as was reported in the South China Morning Post, of December 15.
Without its free market economy, the rule of law, corruption under control, and a strong bulwark against interference from other provinces on the mainland, the future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) will wither and be unable to perform as a major financial centre to develop China's infrastructure.
The Hong Kong administration should redouble its efforts to strengthen its economic and other links with the mainland provinces, and the key central government departments in China.
Hong Kong people have to be more united in implementing the three principles written by President Jiang Zemin on Financial Secretary Donald Tsang's APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum) menu card: one country-two systems, high degree of autonomy, and prosperity and stability. Mr Yung's comments are a timely challenge to the entrepreneurial and competitive spirit of Hong Kong people, and their faith in Hong Kong's future as a regional financial centre and gateway to China.
HILTON CHEONG-LEEN Chairman Hong Kong Civic Association