The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 14

WORLD 14 THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1997 73" Ctag Cfomigs Ucrteir BiDinia's sSair I POLITICAL PLAYS NEW LEADER'S PLEDGE Balcony scene an even 6' ouir ha.llma.Fk greater triumph for Tung A the mainland through mutual trust, mutual economic benefits, cultural interaction and mutual respect for each other's way of life." Mr Tung said that for a long time Hong Kong had embraced eastern and western cultures. "We will continue to encourage diversity in our society but we must also reaffirm and respect the fine traditional Chinese values, including filial piety, love for the family, modesty and integrity and the desire for continuous improvement "We value plurality but discourage open confrontation; we strive for liberty but not at the expense of the rule of law; we respect minority views but are mindful of wider interests; we protect individual rights but also shoulder collective responsibilities," he said. It was "immensely important" to maintain and develop Hong Kong's legal system and rule of law. "We will continue to ensure that the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government will operate independently," Mr Tung said. Benchmark Mr Tung smiles as judges are sworn in after the handover.

By LINDSAY MURDOCH and DAVID LAGUE in Hong Kong Only hours after the end of Britain's 156-year rule, Hong Kong's Beijing-appointed Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee-hwa, yesterday appealed to the territory's 6.3 million people to respect Chinese values while working against "insidious threats which are taxing our courage and In a speech designed to reassure Hong Kong about China's rule, Mr Tung announced reforms to improve education, help the elderly, solve a shortage of housing and curb property speculation. He also appealed to Hong Kong people to rectify a "general lack of understanding about China in Hong Kong" so that the new approach of one country, two systems could become a success. Hong Kong Democrats who were unseated when the elected Legislative Council was disbanded at midnight on Monday have condemned the Beijing-appointed Provisional Legislature and ARMY OF THE DAWN By MARGARET HARRIS When the Democratic Party leader, Mr Martin Lee, appeared on the balcony of Hong Kong's Legislative Council building in the first hours of Chinese rule, Mr Tung Chee-hwa scored his first significant political victory as the new leader of Hong Kong. It was Mr Tung's intervention that allowed Mr Lee to walk into the Legislative Council, from which he was officially barred from midnight, and onto the balcony unmolested. In doing so Mr Tung proved to China that he can be trusted to keep those bogeymen the Democrats under control, and at the same time gave Hong Kong and the world hope that democracy will not be choked at birth in Hong Kong after all.

In a stirring speech, Mr Lee promised a crowd waiting in the square below: "We shall return." Campaigning for elections promised by Mr Tung by May next year would begin immediately. By allowing Mr Lee onto the balcony, Mr Tung effectively brought the Democrats leader and his party into the fold. Until that moment, Mr Only cultures at war as the PLA A-team i vXi tiNrT 0 4 "We shall return" Mr Lee, left, and fellow members of his Democratic Party on the balcony. Lee, as the head of a party hich won 60 per cent of the vote in the 1995 elections, was potentially Mr Tung's greatest threat If he had forced a confrontation Mr Lee had said he would climb a ladder if necessary to make his speech Mr Tung would have created a martyr. As it was, Mr Lee's speech was the climax to a night of celebration, leaving an intense sense of patriotism.

"We are proud to be Chinese, never prouder than at this moment," said Mr Lee. Proud -and hopeful that Beijing can be persuaded, with Mr Tung's help, to trust Hong Kong. Clearance Price 299.00 199.00 99.95 120.00 59.95 24.95 34.95 39.95 69.95 549.00 $199.00 299.00 69.95 19.95 29.95 19.95 59.95 18.95 79.95 29.95 249.00 44.95 49.95 19.95 14.95 99.00 79.95 149.00 180.00 Was rugby polos classic Aaron Styling shirts jumpers comfort) sole cowing 1 JJJWfO Gowings 'Central Station' full length cashmere overcoat Gowings 'Original Flynn' Navy blazer 1 Mr rs jV' -V i IIMHIIIII JIUII I Mill III MMMI Ill IIIIIM II III Ml 1 II II I II II II IllimiH II I II II I I mii Z'if' 'L said its formation broke agreements reached between Britain and China. But fears of a crackdown on political dissent, fuelled by laws curbing public protests and offshore funding of political parties, were eased early yesterday when the president of the new body, Mrs Rita Fan, told members they needed to pass an electoral law as soon as possible so elections could be held for a new counciL Sheung Shui wave Chinese and new sequence while a group of mums in clingy orange tops and lycra shorts punched the air and stepped aerobi-cally to welcome their new army. On the other side of the road, safely under shelter, the Tuen Mun Children's Choir Orchestra managed to stay in time and in tune as they worked through a repertoire of popular Chinese songs like Dreaming of China, despite having been up playing their music most of the night.

Ordinary, non-dancing people, were three-to-four deep on both sides of the street waving Chinese and new Hong Kong bauhinia-flower flags. Some were dragging bleary-eyed children woken before dawn for their first glimpse of China's army. School principals in the area wrote to parents last month urging them to bring their children to welcome the Mr Tung, a shipping tycoon, said the foremost defence to the threats facing Hong Kong were its economic vitality and economic growth. "Only through the creation of wealth can we improve the living of the people of Hong Kong and continue to contribute to our country," he said. It was the responsibility of Hong Kong's autonomous administration to enhance the city as an international Hong Kong bauhinia-f lower flags to PLA soldiers, a move which infuriated some.

But it seems many parents heeded the advice. After all, final assessments and report cards are not due out for another two weeks. While there had certainly been pressure on people to come and welcome the PLA, the excitement and cheering which greeted the arrival of the first army trucks was unmistakea-bly genuine. The people of the New Territories were never fond of the British, whom they barely tolerated on their soil during the 99-year lease which ended at midnight on Monday, and whom they forced into developing a complex set of property and local custom laws in order to keep the peace. The PLA soldiers proved they were definitely from China's A-team, standing to attention, automatic weapons 'FUTURE IS ASSURED' finance centre while upholding the principles of free trade, fair competition and non-interference in the market Threats included persistently high inflation, social problems arising from a growing and aging population, and employment dislocation caused by the restructuring of the economy, Mr Tung said.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the formation of the new Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, he reiterated China's promises that existing freedoms and lifestyles would be preserved in the territory for 50 years. "Democracy is the hallmark of a new era for Hong Kong," he said, and the new administration would "resolutely move forward to a more democratic form of government" in accordance with agreements reached between Britain and China. The interests of Hong Kong and the Chinese motherland were intricately linked and interwined. "We must strengthen the understanding and relationship between Hong Kong and welcome PLA troops. slung over their shoulders, in open trucks as the downpour soaked them to the skin.

Even their waving and smiling, of which they did plenty, was done in a uniform military fashion. Before crossing into Hong Kong, the troops had been warned by their commander, Major-General Liu Zhenwu to "avoid evil winds and noxious influence" and to "serve the The PLA, which has taken over 14 British military sites, including the Prince of Wales Barracks in the heart of the business district, is still badly tainted by the 1989 bloodshed around Tiananmen Square in Beijing. In a new opinion poll by the University of Hong Kong, only 15 per cent of those surveyed said they had a good impression of the PLA. This compared with 39 per cent for the Tm sure there will be more than a wet eye in some of the clubs around Hong Kong and even in London and some places about the good old days," he said. "But when we think of those so-called good old days of the postwar years, it was good in North America, it was good in Australia but it wasn't too good for China, it wasn't too good for India it W9tn't tnn fr South Amer- 1 'ca an(J these great areas of the world that are rejoining or oining the world economy tor the lirst time.

Mr Keating And the grea opportunity now in the post-Cold War world is to re-weight the world -to see a new world structure, not built on imperialism and colonialism and the shadows of beliefs in one's superiority. "We are finding the legitimacy where the weight is: where the weight of 1.2 billion people is." Nfcr A 'Woolaby pure wool striped long sleeved Great Australian Sweater, crew roll neck Gowings fine herringbone knit shirts Selected Van Heusen business shirts All regular Van Heusen polycotton business Van Heusen pure cotton business shirts City Club business trousers Gowings Super 100 2 trouser Suits Gowings Wool blend two trouser suit Gowings Cool Wool Dinner Suit Sax Altman permatron sports trouser Waterproof Mobile phone pouch Bonds Original Windcheater (pure cotton) Wilkinson Sword grass shears Gowings gardening trouser (with knee pads) Wilkinson Sword pruner Classic Australian Paling letter box King Gee cotton drill trouser Superior Gore-Tex jackets (waterproof) Lazy Fish bottle openers Gowings pure wool Fisherman Cable knit Gowings durable denim shirts Authentic Greek Fisherman's caps I-eatherman Standard Tool 33500 Hushpuppy suede slip ons great colours Rockport Shoes selected styles (ultimate RM Williams Gardener boots rubber in arrives Photograph by JASON SOUTH departing British garrison and 60 per cent for the Hong Kong police. Mindful of their image problem, PLA troops arriving in Hong Kong have supplemented their training with special courses on good posture, good manners and chants of a new slogan invented for the Hong Kong garrison: "Four Nos, One Yes" no smoking, no restaurants, no barbershops, no getting money from home, and yes to saving. Barbershops are a notorious cover for brothels here. Only one soldier, an armoured car commander, broke ranks.

Unlike the commanders of the other 19 vehicles, he could not restrain his excitement at seeing so many people happy to see him. He waved and grinned in a totally non-military fashion, which was probably the most reassuring moment of the morning. FUNDS WINDFALL $116bn kitty for starters Hong Kong's Finance Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, yesterday named a committee to advise on the investment and management of the billion in official funds inherited by the territory's new Government The long-awaited announcement followed the overnight transfer of the funds held by the former British colonial government, boosting the foreign reserves of the new Chinese Special Administrative Region (SAR) to an estimated 116.4 billion. Mr Tsang will chair the committee, with the chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Joseph Yam, and the former land fund chief, Mr Chung Shui-ming, as deputies. The other members are Mr Alexander Au of the Hang Seng Bank, Mr Vincent Cheng of Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, Mr Antony Leung of Chase Manhattan Bank, Mr David Li of Bank of East Asia, Mr Ian Wilson of Standard Chartered Bank, and Mr Yang Zilin of Bank of China.

The joint fund will make Hong Kong the world's fourth or fifth biggest holders of foreign exchange. Agence Fran cc-Pr esse HOLEPROOF RANGE OF SOCKS 20 OFF JOHN BROWN RANGE OF SOCKS 20 OFF Patriotism flowers the crowds in By MARGARET HARRIS Herald Correspondent in Sheung Shui, Hong Kong border As dawn broke here yesterday, 2,000 soldiers of the People's Liberation Army received the surreal sort of welcome Hong Kong is best at: a drenching from a tropical rainstorm and a display of the territory's mixed-up culture. There was the conventional lion dance and drum-beating, and cheers from people gathered from all over the New Territories the mainland part of Hong Kong in the main street of Sheung Shui village, close to the barracks the detachment will occupy near the territory's border with China proper. But there was also disco music belted out as a troupe of pom-pom girls performed a cheerleader HOWARD ANSWERS CRITICS Stromas ff HUM ft Gowings Macquarie Island Pea Coat Feathertop lined Japara (waterproof walking Billabong 'mini' rubber backed wool picnic rug Genuine Spanish Leather wine bladders Gowings BBQ Set with apron, tongs glove Genuine Thermos 1 litre Walk-a-Seat (portable sports seat) Lee Rider Jeans 'Milner' Lever arch bottle openers PM defends Australia's stance on human rights Keating takes a last swipe at the departing colonists Grosby slippers great winter price Authentic sheepskin ankle high Ugh boots Van Heusen brushed cotton PJ's Koala Swansdown flannelette PJ's Gowings plain fleecy track suits Gowings 'Clubhouse' Neidec Cords Gowings 'Breakwater duffle coats 'Reef Brazil' Suede Joggers Drizabone 'Weatherall' wool lined long Gloster long sleeve brushed check sport Pinball median whale cord shirts RM Williams Moleskin Jeans (assorted) Akubra Hats (not including heritage ranpe) Eddie Bauer cotton cable jumpers Hanes 'Beefy' short sleeve Shirts Onieta 100 cotton Shirts (USA) coats shirts jacket) 149.00 119.00 49.95 $9.95 24.95 39.95 29.95 49.95 249.00 14.95 34.95 19.95 29.95 44.90 -t-WCOO 119.00 159.00 89.95 160.00 39.95 39.95 99.95 74.95 29.95 16.95 14.95 Sydney TORES DAYS All items available at Market St. Most items available at Oxford St Wynyard Stores Please Phone 9264 6321 for availability.

i Now at Gowings Wynyard City Fishing Supplies, Boomerang Cafe, Barbershop, Maritime Model Museum, Gowings Mitre 10 Hardware. By MICHAEL MILLETT in New York The Prime Minister has defended Australia's decision to take a less vigorous and public role in pushing human rights in the region, hours after the official changeover to Chinese rule in Hong Kong. In a speech to the Foreign Policy Association in New York, Mr Howard said China had strong motives to abide by its commitments to retain Hong Kong's autonomy. "It would be unrealistic to imagine that this historically significant event will not bring changes to the former British colony," he said. "However, there is no doubt that China's best interests lie in keeping to the one country, two systems commitment it made in relation to Hong Kong.

"China has good reason to fulfil its promises to retain Hong Kong's substantial autonomy and its existing freedoms." Mr Howard, who had earlier watched the handover live on monitors at the New York Stock Exchange, devoted a large part of his speech to an explanation of his Government's By TONY WRIGHT The former prime minister, Mr Paul Keating, aimed a parting kick yesterday at the British colonial authorities in Hong Kong as he forecast a great and prosperous future for its citizens. Mr Keating, attending a reception at the Chinese Embassy in Canberra to celebrate Britain's return of its former colony to China, said he believed many people in Hong Kong were confused at present, but he was convinced their future was assured. He said that after a period of adjustment, people in Hong Kong would "see the justice of the new arrangements, which are more mature and more appropriate than the vestiges of colonialism we've seen now since the Mr Keating and the Acting Prime Minister, Mr Fischer, were guest speakers at the function hosted by the Chinese Ambassador, Mr Hua Junduo. Mr Keating devoted much of his speech to celebrating "a new age where people have a right to govern themselves, where sovereignty is being fully stance on human rights a stance which has been criticised by both the United States and Britain because of its emphasis on trade relationships. Mr Howard said the Government would continue to push a co-operative approach, with the emphasis on country-to-country talks, rather than "lecturing" in public forums.

The comments, notably in relation to the Government's rejection of a confrontational approach to Indonesia's handling of East Timor, earned Mr Howard some abuse from one heckler in the black-tie audience. Mr Howard said that in responding to "shortcomings" on human rights, the Government had to take into account the remarkable economic progress occuring in Asia. "Apart from one or two anachronistic regimes such as those in Burma and North Korea, the economic transformation of the countries of east Asia has produced enormous improvements in the living standards of ordinary people; stability that is unprecedented in their modern history and, in most cases, more open societies," he said. 1 sine ree GO Go Bar Oxford St AT, ALL IlllD.