WHATEVER APPREHENSIONS SURROUND HONG KONG’S RETURN NEXT YEAR TO CHINA’S SOVEREIGNTY, THEY WON’T INTERFERE WITH WHAT IS EXPECTED TO BE A GREAT CELEBRATION THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF JULY 1.
JOE WONG, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC & TRADE OFFICE IN NEW YORK, TOLD A PRESS AT A LUNCHEON AT THE GRAND CHINA RESTAURANT ON PEACHTREE ROAD DEC. 3 THAT HOTEL ROOMS ARE FILLING UP FOR THE HANDOVER CEREMONY FROM BRITAIN, WHICH HAS RULED THE TERRITORY SINCE 1841. THE CELEBRATION IS TO BEGIN AROUND MIDNIGHT ON JUNE 30.
MR. WONG SAID THAT SOME 6,000 MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE EXPECTED TO COVER THE EVENT, EVOKING MEMORIES OF THE SUMMER OLYMPICS IN ATLANTA.
HIS VISIT TO ATLANTA WAS INDICATIVE OF HONG KONG’S EFFORTS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE WORLD PRESS AND PLACE THE CONCEPT OF ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS IN A POSITIVE LIGHT.
IN ANTICIPATION OF THE HANDOVER, THE NUMBER OF MAINLAND CHINESE VISITING HONG KONG IS SOARING AND MANY COMPANIES FROM THE MAINLAND HAVE OPENED OFFICES IN THE TERRITORY. MR. WONG SAID HONG KONG’S ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS REMAIN STRONG AND HE FORECASTED A 4.7% GROWTH RATE FOR THE TERRITORY’S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT FOR 1996.
HONG KONG’S ECONOMIC BASE HAS UNDERGONE A PHENOMENAL SHIFT FROM MANUFACTURING TO SERVICES WHICH WILL CONTINUE, HE ADDED. BUT IT WILL REMAIN A SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY.
MR. WONG SPOKE OF FORMER HONG KONG RESIDENTS RETURNING TO THE TERRITORY AS A POSITIVE SIGN. UNDER THE ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS FORMULA AGREED TO IN THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION, HONG KONG IS TO REMAIN A CAPITALIST ECONOMY AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CENTER FOR AT LEAST 50 YEARS BEYOND 1997.
HE ALSO SAID THE TERRITORY WOULD RETAIN CLOSE TIES WITH THE U.S. AND IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF BUYING ITS OFFICES IN NEW YORK, WASHINGTON D.C. AND SAN FRANCISCO.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL GENE HANRATTY OF THE HONG KONG INFORMATION CENTER-ATLANTA AT (404) 238-0875; FAX, (404) 233-2118.