AMONG the topics for discussion at the National Peoples Congress currently in session in Beijing (Peking) is the eventual status of the British crown colony of Hong Kong, the lease' of which runs out in 1997.
With the memory of the Falklands War only one year old the British must come to an attitude on the Hong Kong question.
We start consideration of this subject with a contribution from October Review, a revolutionary Marxist journal published Chinese in Hong Kong. translation is by October Review. IN ORDER to assure their investment prospects, Hong Kong capitalists have urged Britain to propose to China the question of Hong Kong's future. So, Beijing and London each has to clarify its position on this unresolved historical question. On the other hand, the people of Hong Kong, who constitute the majority of the population makers of Hong Kong's prosperity, have maintained a The Hong Kong working class have glorious tradition patriotic, revolutionary struggles. During the Second Revolution (1925-27) 250,000 Hong Kong workers participated in the Guangdong-Hong Kong strike which lasted 28 months. The workers waged imperialist actions against Japan during the Second against British colonialism after 1949.
The workers greeted the successful 1949 revolution, ported China's reforms, hoped establishment democratic socialist system that China could quickly overcome her backwardness poverty and help Hong Kong people perialism.
It is a historical task for the Chinese to regain sovereignty and end colonial rule. To 'maintain the status quó' is contrary China's national interests.
Events of the past months show that the colonialists have met with frustrations but they are arranging to give necessary concessions in order to COLLILC squeezing profits in Hong Kong. The Chinese government hopes for an uncnanged capitals! system after . sovereignty has been regained over Hong Kong. As for the great majority of the people of Hong Kong, they reject the Chinese Communist Party's bureaucratic rule, and have tallen into a dilemma.
Under this particular situation, une slogan sen-rule or nong nong Dy the Hong Kong people' has been raised. The basic cause for this situation (and Mrs Thatcher even shamelessly declared herself as the caretaker of the welfare of the Hong Kong people) is the corrupt rule of the CCP for three decades which has given rise to a deep crisis of faith and confidence among the people in China and Hong Kong.
When the CCP leaders propose 'self-rule of Hong Kong', they are more or less admitting the above painful fact. But more movement In The the British labouring the of Chinese antiWorld War sup. economic for the of a truly so perialists and capitalists liberate the im- convulsions will incur, •ul ne source of foreign currency.
to when DOVCICI-IL establishes it as a Kong, Hong Kong On the other hand, means the the Constitution element added Hong unwilling to important still, •UDESOL. they are aiming at pleasing the imHong Kong. They hope that the minimum sovereignty smoothly transferred, Hong Kong can remain a free port or financial centre and continue to be a the ССР regains over Hong Kong, 'special zone allows 'one country with two systems' and tolerates the existence of foreign and Chinese capitalists, it will not however tolerate the exercise of true democratic freedoms by the people. This is evident from the three decades of CCP rule in China, from the present secret way by which Britain and Beijing negotiate the future of Hong and from the lact that the people's democratic freedoms have never been mentioned. ple.
the maintenance of capitalism in Hong Kong preservation of colonial economic forces in Hong Kong. With of the People's Republic of China protecting the capitalist order, it actually means the establishment of a varied form of colonial rule in Hong Kong, the new joint exploitation of the CCP bureaucrats and the red capitalists. The majority Kong accept this schema of retaining old chains and adding new Mass rally against the denial of democratic rights in Hong Kong practiced under the British administration.
must fight for a desired perspective by one's own efforts. Ii the people of Hong Kong do not want to passively accept their fate, must make a conscious choice and fight for a truly democratic self-rule of Hong Kong and give the idea the content they desire. Highest To realise this, a people's congress elected on a fully democratic basis must be set up. It will become the highest organ of power and will have the full power to decide all important questions. The congress will elect a standing committee to exercise powers while it is not in convention. This is the most concrete, democratic and effective form of self-rule of Hong Kong by the Hong Kong peoFor this form of self-rule to be ultimately achieved, must first strive for the following: 1. Political democratisation. use of all channels to express political views on the present and future of Hong Kong. Expose the reaction of theories which uphold the tiveness of the colonial treaties and Britain's continued rule of Hong Kong. Explain the necessity of self rule of Hong Kong by the Hong Kong people on a fully democratic basis The Chinese labouring people who constitute the majority of Kong's population have the right and the ability to decide their own destiny.
Hong kong enjoy rights including the rights of speech they strike, rally, association and formation of political parties. All political organisations have the right of public rally, postulation of their ideas, winning of mass support and intervention in politics. Abolish all political repression and colonial laws and regulations. Heighten the people's political consciousness and enthusiasm for intervention in politics.
terests of the people, especially the labouring masses. Practice a social insurance system, with unemployment its aids and compensations for unpaid wages or dismissal. Prevent capitalists Make effecHong 500 Km workers aneuseive OHCE м- 4 resolve district. mainland ICICOLS 2. Guarantee that all citizens in all democratic Only 3. Concrete guarantee of the in the China.
CHINA from arbitrary closure of factones. Freeze all price increases of public utilities and rental of public housing DUDHIC ulunes. Sliding scale of workers' wages.
4. The ten billions of Hong Kon dollars of reserves comes from the labour of the Hong Kong people and it should be used for Hong Kong' education, health and other social welfare enterprises. It could finance various public construction works to alleviate the unemployment problem.
5. For the above ideals to become the reality, Hong Kong's citizens and must first organise around trade unions. labour associations and progressive social groups. Where there are no trade unions, the workers should al organise one in production units. Promote grassroot general elections, union democratisation. Get rid of the control of the union bureauc. racy. All trade unions and progressive groups should practise a great alliance and set up a united front.
6. Make use of all opportunities to participate in democratic elections. such as participation in elections to district councils and the Urban Council. Although the powers of these in. clos are very luteo. e æo! ty of their members belong to the upper and middle strata of society, and there is as yet no real representative o! the labouring classes, yet this does no prevent the citizens to make use of al opportunities of democratic election: to voice their opinion, intervene is social affairs, and strive for the ex. pansion of the powers of these institu. tions, so that they can have the powe major problems in th All councillors must be democratically elected and subject to recali ov ue electors arauy ult 7. The link between Hong Kon mainland China, lalwan anc Macau is close and inseparable. Im portant developments of one par have much impact on the other parts The people of Hong Kong must br closely concerned about the situatiot and developments of the mainland Taiwan and Macau, and actively sup port the struggles of people in the for democratic rights and economic in Waning Hong Kong cannot develop indep endently from China. In a capitalis world that is suffering a general reces sion and waning, Hong Kong canno have any perspective of reformism Only by the political intervention o the Hong Kong labouring people ca the term 'self-rule of Hong Kong b the Hong Kong people' be given an! actual meaning and prospect. By th gains of their struggles, the Hony Kong people can encourage the strug gle of workers and peasants in th mainiand for socialist democracy when this struggle in th mainland is expanded and develope with the ultimate abolition of the ruk of bureaucratie dictatorship can Hong Kong people restore their. con fidence in their motherland and hel construction 3 January 1983
Socialist Action
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different mentality. Tradition