Conjecturing Hong Kong S Future Lam Hang Chi S Editorials From The Hong Kong Economic Journal 1975 1984

The editorials collected in this book date from 1975 to 1984 when the signing of the Joint Declaration between Britain and China, and Hong Kong lead to intense debates about this incongruous scenario. Dr. Lam's editorials and conjectures provided a focal point for discussing Hong Kong's future. His views on housing, assimilating immigrants, the collusion of politics and business still inform.

1975-1984: the decade leading up to the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration witnessed the rise of China from an isolated country to a serious economic player on the world stage and the decline of the British empire. Torn between the two was Hong Kong, a stable and prosperous British colony with an almost wholly Chinese population, a city world-renowned for money-making with little interest in politics. What would be Hong Kong's fate after 1997? At times astute and uncannily prescient, at other times wildly imaginative, Lam Hang-chi's daily editorials in the Hong Kong Economic Journal analyzed and conjectured Hong Kong's options at the time. His opinions sparked debates and frequently provided a focal point for the discussion on Hong Kong's future; His views on housing, assimilating immigrants, the collusion of politics and business, issues that are foremost in Hong Kong today, still inform. For the first time, they are made available in English.

The book examines, linking two key variables – ‘political leadership’ and ‘foreign policy’ – the role of Deng Xiaoping in China’s foreign policy shift after Mao in politico-strategic and economic domains. The book finds out that guided by his own personality, worldview, experience, pragmatism, belief and style Deng attempted to resolve the long-standing domestic and foreign policy issues. Most importantly, Deng moved from the primacy of politics to economic modernisation which resulted in far-reaching changes in China’s external engagement. The book's central inquiry is to assess the contemporary relevance of Deng’s foreign policy paradigm. It establishes that the relevance of Deng’s policy continues in the present context except for China’s pro-activeness towards issues pertaining to its territorial integrity and sovereignty. Using China’s case, the study advances the framework of understanding pertaining to the role of political leadership in foreign policy.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES SERIES papers are written for and published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The series will present the insights of prominent East Asian analysts and draw conclusions about complementarities or divergences that may exist. Those insights, in tum, will serve in the aggregate as the basis for a richer, cross-

After ruling Hong Kong for 155 years, what did the British leave behind when they withdrew at midnight on 30 June 1997? C. K. Lau answers this question for the lay reader. Whether you are a long-time resident or merely a newcomer to the territory, Hong Kong's Colonial Legacy promises to deepen your understanding of this Pearl of the Orient. Questions this book tackles include: (1) What is the attitude of Hong Kong Chinese towards British rule and the resumption of Chinese sovereignty? (2) Why have most of them failed to master English despite a century and a half of colonial rule? (3) What is the future of the common law after 1997? (4) What do Hong Kong's leaders mean by executive-led government? (5) What is Hong Kong's recipe for economic success? (6) What is the future of press freedom in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region?

A balanced analysis of a sensitive subject: Hong Kong's future prospects.