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amount of the fees. This will not help those denied access to the festivities, but may help others in their eveiyday lives.
JAMES C. BANE JR.
Sperryville
Happy about
Hong Kong
lb the Editor:
A resident “old China hand” I, too, rejoice at the return of Hong Kong to the tight embrace of the motherland.
Some observers believe China recognizes the value of a golden-egg-laying goose, and will preserve Hong Kong’s special qualities under the rubric “one country, two systems.” Hong Kong would thus be allowed to influence development of China in Hong Konglike directions. Other observers believe China’s current leadership cannot accept unchallenged the incorporation of 6.5 million Chinese who enjoy rights and privileges far greater than those of their mainland compatriots.
Indeed, Beijing has already begun to cut Hong Kong down to size. The golden goose appears fated to become a Beijing duck.
The United States, which has assumed a protectionist role for the Hong Kong system, will be obliged to protest Beijing’s dismantling of that system. This will add a recurrent irritant to the administration’s China policy.
So be it. American pressures on Beijing help insure evolution of a more representative Chinese leadership. Such as leadership will better provide for eagle and dragon to find common cause.
Then all of us, whether in Washington, D.C. or Washington, Va., can be more confident of the future. In any case, former British Hong Kong’s ultimate contributions will be to help force change for the better on changing China.
NORMAN GETSINGER
Flint Hill
94.8%