June 26, 1997 * CAROLYN CARTIER (541) 346-4557 Cartier is a UO associate professor of geography who focuses on human and environmental geography. She specializes in the regional economic transformation of South China and is working on a book, "The Rise of the South China Coast." Cartier says the view held by many in the United States that the handover of Hong Kong to Chinese rule will be the catalyst for enormous change reflects more about American society than about Hong Kong. Cartier notes that Beijing and Britain long have known that Hong Kong would revert to China this year and are prepared for the move. "One thing that the majority of people in Hong Kong and Beijing agree on," says Cartier, "is the need to protect a strong economy in Hong Kong." Cartier predicts that political change in post-British Hong Kong, which will include some repression of political activity, will not necessarily have direct impact on the economic stability of Hong Kong. She predicts that economic growth in Hong Kong will remain strong under the new leadership and will continue to spill over into South China. * RICHARD "PETE" SUTTMEIER (541) 346-2856 Suttmeier is a professor of political science and director of Asian studies at the University of Oregon. He is a long-time China watcher who has traveled regularly to China since 1978. He has written extensively on Asian affairs. Suttmeier was in China and Hong Kong last week. He says the people of mainland China see the recovery of Hong Kong as the righting of a 150-year-old wrong. Suttmeier says most mainland Chinese feel a deep sense of shame that they lost Hong Kong to the British. "Hong Kong, after all, was taken by the British as a result of a war that involved the British selling opium into China," Suttmeier points out. He predicts that many mainland Chinese cities will hold celebrations that will equal or even eclipse any in Hong Kong. * ANITA WEISS (541) 346-3245 Weiss, an associate professor of international studies at the University of Oregon, taught at the University of Hong Kong from 1985-1987. Weiss is still in touch with expatriates who teach at the university. "Everybody is concerned that China will keep its promises," she says. The Chinese have promised economic autonomy to Hong Kong for the next 50 years. Chinese Communist leaders have also agreed to allow non-Chinese nationals who have lived in Hong Kong for seven years or more to stay. Weiss says her friends in Hong Kong worry that the Chinese government might impose new limits on political freedom which may force them to leave Hong Kong. "Most of my friends who are staying in Hong Kong are engaged in some sort of research on China," Weiss says. Scholars fear they will not be able to continue some kinds of research and that they will be expelled if the Chinese crack down on intellectual freedom. Weiss last visited Hong Kong in 1995. -30- #T-4009/Day