Britain's rulers wonderfully government has made sovereignty to be restored by then.
But of course things La little more plicated in Hongkong than in the Malvinas. If the Beijing government wanted to simply grab control of the colony there would be no prodien wnalevel The 7000 British and Ghurka troops could hardly hold out against the multimillioned of Peoples Revolutionary ArBut both British imperialism and China have an enormous stake in maintaining the social structure Hongkong. For Ine Hongkong bourgeoisie it is an enormous source o Drouls. lor sources son of the mer foreign change badly needed for the development effort. Some sort of deal should, then, be eminently possible. But things not so simple.
When Thatcher visited China in 1982 she insulted her hosts by implying Britain's determination sovereignty despite the signals being on the problem of outstanding claims for sovereignty on British colonies. One of the most sensitive of these is of course Hongkong. The treaty by which Britain hold the colony is due to run out in 1997, and the Chinese it clear that it expects fice 'wets Thatcher got a sharp reply trom Beijing.
And then there is the question of the people Hongkong themselves. Is their choice limited to continued colonial oppression integration with the Stalinist Chinese monolith?
Gregor Benton's timely book gives an admirable account of the history of the colonial domination of thered by the engeles waged by Hongkong workers from the beginning of the Cultural Revoluthe British and Beijing governments, the radical alternatives which face the DCODIC of Hongkong. All socialists will be particularly terested in his account of the Hongkong-based democracy movement.
Despite the fact that the average income of the Hongkong workers much higher than those in rife with poverty, inequality exploitation. In precise v what sense 1s a worker in a back street sweatshop making watahes divines for squalor, living suudiul. 'richer' than a Chinese peasant in a commune?
Against the propaganda and mystification both the governments in volved, Gregor Benton's oook oulines the Drooicu from the point of view which is the only correct starting-point that of Hongkong workers.
MITO & PRE Saturday 12 November 11.30, Channel 4 This collection of terrible movies has been amusing so far, but unfortunately you have to put up with the nauseating Michae vicoved and his stupid captions trying to make the whole thing into an forced into its final statement is one of despair.
Here cou case
Ravena says: 'I don't want anything to do with men that look at pornography. I don't i want anything to do with men that cut women up, men that tell women to lie back and relax men wao tell masogynsi jokes! These are the final lines.
But the point is she has just been imprisoned, presumably for years. The play therefore ends when her choice of her own actions has been art form. This week's is 'They saved Hitler's brain' in which a motley filer's head in a glass Nazis store jar.
Newsnight special: Central America Saturday 12 November, BBC2 A special report from taken away from her. Right through the play I ten malviaual men were getting away with it.
as shits Yes their actions are seen as inexcusible Unfortunately I don't believe that method of portrayal would have one iota of effect on any man unal saw ine play. ror me as a woman, Masterpieces was a powerru releranon of how women suffer. It does however com. promise in my opinion in the wav its statement. are presented. Scene after scene had a topping of Vicaragu Honduras Salvador which promises new pictures of the fighting views with both sides.
New cinema of 11.00, Channel 4 more U1. Central America in the last of C4's interesting This is a collection of five short documentaries: witty repartee as though to make sure that the audience got 'good entertainment' value despite the subject matter.
Mind Mind you I am not convalue dour mues Ike - • 'How do you get three men to paper a room. Quite easily, , but you have to slice them thinly.' But time after time it was the old sexist jokes we got.
I know it was supposed to force home the The great Palace: The story of parliament Thursday 17 November, BBC2 Using models and great technical expertise, BBC recreate the night when parliament went up in flames in 1834. this be taken as incite ment to revolution? Surely not, but you can sit back and enjoy it all the same. reality of mens' attitudes towards women, but the men in the audience laughed. No doubt they were having their consciences raised at the same time.
A play worth seeing • Dul 1 aon l advise going along with a man: "he horrific bits disturt them, the jokes make them laugh and that lets them miss the whole Masterpieces by Sorch Daniels is showing at the Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1
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The Worst of Hollywood
Latin America Monday 14 November,