In the ballroom where Prince Charles bestowed knighthoods on Sunday, Tung Chee-hwa yesterday presented a different set of awards, writes Conor O'Clery, from Hong Kong
By CONOR O'CLERY
--(Reuter)
THE setting was the same, only the characters and the script has changed.
In the identical colonial ball room where on Sunday Prince Charles bestowed knighthoods for service to Queen and Empire, Mi Tung Chee-hwa yesterday presented a different set of awards for dedication to Hong Kong and China.
The same police band played, the same stewards in white tunics with gold braid ushered guests through the doors of Government House, and Hong Kong's new Chief Executive gave out gold Grand Bauhinia Medals - named after Hong Kong's new floral symbol - which looked like Queen Elizabeth's Birthday Honours medals.
The Chinese flag flew over the building which housed 25 colonial governors, and the Chinese national anthem was played instead of God Save the Queen, but the ceremony sent out a strong message - this Hong Kong tradition at least would continue under Chinese sovereignty.
Later, at his first press conference since his Tuesday inauguration, Mr Tung emphasised that continuity would be paramount in the Special Administrative Region of China which Hong Kong has become. This applied to a range of characteristics which made Hong Kong unique, from the right to demonstrate, to the presence of over 100,000 maids from the Philippines.
Confident, smiling, and answering questions fluently in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, the shipping tycoon did much to establish his presence and authority as Hong Kong's new governor and to calm any lingering fears that he might take a tougher pro-Beijing line now that the transfer of Hong Kong to China is an accomplished fact.
Asked about the pro-democracy demonstration by 10,000 people on the first day of Chinese sovereignty, Mr Tung said there would be no ban on similar protests in future, unless there was good reason. It was fine for such demonstrations to go ahead as they were part of Hong Kong culture, he said. "I have repeated many times that demonstrations so long as they are lawful and peaceful can go right ahead."
He deflected a question on whether Mr Martin Lee, leader of the Democratic Party which lost its voice with the dissolution of the legislative council elected under the reforms of the former Governor, Mr Chris Patten, would be punished for holding an unauthorised demonstration on the balcony of the assembly building on Monday night. But he hoped the party would take part in elections next year.
Mr Tung warned, however, that a series of laws intended to strengthen civil liberties, which were rushed through the legislative council before it was dissolved, might be repealed by the provisional legislature.
"Each one of these laws, each one of these amendments, is being studied by the administration and we will do what is necessary to protect this community," he said.
He repeatedly emphasised that under the one country-two systems formula Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy. China supported that for good reason. "The more prosperous we are, the more we contribute to China's continued modernisation. The more prosperous China is, Hong Kong becomes even more prosperous.
He hoped British expatriates would continue to live and work in Hong Kong and that Britain would mend fences with China, for the sake of Hong Kong.
Asked about Hong Kong's 150,000-strong Filipino community, many of whom fear that Chinese maids will get their jobs, he said: "Filipino domestic help is very much a part of our community and hopefully will be for a long, long time to come.
The once-reticent Mr Tung showed he has come a long way since his nomination for the job in December in handling the media. Despite his charm and wit, he did not give direct answers to several awkward questions.
The Chinese Vice-Premier, Mr Qian Qichen, accompanied Mr Tung at the presentation of medals of honour in Government House yesterday morning. Twelve citizens received the Grand Bauhinia Medal, for which they:
1, fostered among Hong Kong people a love for the Motherland;
2, showed concern about and support for and also identified with China's accomplishments; and
3, made an outstanding contribution to the Hong Kong community.
One of the 12 was Mr Henry Fok Ying Tung, a business and real estate tycoon who helped organise Chinese participation in a bail-out of Mr Tung's family shipping company in the 1980s. He was shunned by the British administration for his sympathies with Beijing and for breaking the UN embargo on China during the Korean War.
The others were mainly prominent legal, banking, manufacturing and educational figures.
Mr Tung refuses to live in Government House because of its bad fung shui, or confluence of the elements, but will use it for ceremonial occasions and as a museum.
On his first day at the office, the Chief Executive also met politicians from New Zealand, Canada, Japan and Thailand who were driven through violent thunder storms to the stately mansion occupied until Monday by Mr Patten.
Since the handover on Monday night, rain has fallen almost unceasingly on the territory.
But while the elements might be out of joint, Hong Kong's political climate remains calm, and Mr Tung's promise in his inauguration speech to concentrate on housing, education and social welfare problems - and his demeanour at yesterday's press conference - have done much to reassure Hong Kong people that he has their interests, and not just Beijing's at heart.
His promise that Hong Kong would remain the "freest and most vibrant economy in the world" has also gone down well with the international community.
Patil Majendie adds:
The Peninsula hotel, a Hong Kong icon since 1928, decided to launch its 70th birthday celebrations early with the release of a glossy history of its chequered past.