This is my news dispatch from Hong Kong where I had a happy gathering January 9 with Mr Wang, Mr Yang, Mr Lin and Mr Zhang, four old acquaintances of mine from our beloved island Taiwan. A happy event is to meet friends from afar as I have been told by an old Chinese saying since childhood. This is true. As friends, we five happily picked up amongst others such a subject as our concern: Political developments in Taiwan and across-Straits relations.

Mr Wang, a man who has seen much of the world, first gave a piece of his mind. He said since Hong Kong and Macao have returned home, political developments in Taiwan and across-Straits relations have become problems of common concern of the whole Chinese nation. We Taiwan people are placing our hope on the rise of some reasonable broadminded leaders in Taiwan, leaders who could do things in a practical way and down-to-earth manner so that future across-Straits relations could be well developed, nation reconciliation realized and national interest furthered.

Mr Wang's words obviously reveal his worry over the situation in Taiwan. He said since Li Teng-hui dished up his "two states" fallacy there has arisen a sinister whiff of foul air wind to be smelt on Taiwan and over the Taiwan Straits. Under a heavy smoke of electoral gunpowder hanging high over Taiwan, the various candidates are vying over a heated dispute about their "mainland policy". On the part of Li Teng-hui, he knows by himself that he has had not many days to go for his presidency. He wants a Li-brand constitution to be created. By this is meant to place a new incantation Golden Hoop over the heads of some successors of his and things in that way in Taiwan in the future will be meant a situation inexorably doomed for us Taiwan people.

Mr Yang is a historian and goes on with Wang's words. Since time immemorial, he said, all locals in Taiwan know that Taiwan is an island of China and that they share the same roots with the Chinese nation. It was because of accumulated weakness by the late period of the Qing that had led to foreigners' occupation of Taiwan. But colonialists' rule and their gunpowder enslaved no Taiwan people not to say their kowtowing to the sanguinary slaughter of past intruders. In history, we Taiwan people would rather die than turn their back on their motherland. After winning the war to fight against Japanese invaders in 1945, Taiwan was recovered and returned to the motherland. We Taiwan people were highly exhilarated at this. But Li Teng-hui has acted to the contrary for he is a man who has since childhood received an education as an "imperial subject of Japan", a man who has already become "basically a Japanese" since his youth. After he took office, Taiwan began to be disturbed by a jarring din about "Taiwan independence", an "independent Taiwan" and what not. Now, this man has even made such an utterance that he is "no Chinese born". Still, according to him, Taiwan is not a part of China. This is totally whimsical!

A great patriot fighting in Taiwan for the great cause of unification of the motherland, Mr Lin categorically said that by its territorial domain China may be likened to a giant cock. Taiwan can be compared to a "gold egg" put under the protection of the cock to which avaricious foreigners have long aspired. When the "egg" should get out of hand from the motherland it could only be a broken one. But these are no alarmist talk for Li Teng-hui has styled himself as a man going to lead Taiwan "out of Egypt" in the way Taiwan is to be separated from the motherland which all descendants of the Chinese nation should never allow. To protect the sovereignty of the motherland and its territorial integrity is the common responsibility of the whole Chinese people on both sides of Taiwan Straits. We should all rise to strike back no matter whatever preposterous separatist fallacies Li Teng-hui is going to make.

Mr Zhang has been in Hong Kong for some days. He has just been back from attending the grand ceremony of handing over Macao to the motherland. He said Macao's return has put an end to old colonialist rule on Chinese territory much to the great joy of all sons and daughters of the Chinese nation. Hong Kong has been returned to the embrace of the motherland. The Central Government has strictly followed the policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of Hong Kong according to "Basic Law" in the last two and more years since its return to the motherland. "Let no well water intrude into the river water". The Chinese Government has shown its complete sincerity in sticking to the policy of "one country, two systems", universally well commended by the whole international community. Contrarily, in Taiwan there is no lack of ill-intentioned propaganda against this from the Taiwan authorities. But when one like me has once been found in Hong Kong all doubts will have to be removed. By following the principle of "one country, two systems" Hong Kong has retained its original social system, lifestyle and laws. The Hong Kong people have become masters and run affairs of their own and are in no fear now of a secure happy life to be deprived. In spite of the Asian financial crisis, Hong Kong has stayed where it is as the financial, trade, shipping and information center of the world in Asia. Meanwhile, new steps have even been made for greater economic advances in Hong Kong.

Where lies the powerhouse? To be in short, there is the "one country, two systems" policy serving pillar stone and backing of the powerful motherland. Mr Wang, Mr Yang, Mr Lin and Mr Zhang all hold that history will roll on and on. Li Teng-hui will surely constitute no final stumbling block on the great road of China's unification irrespective of all possible tricks he may use and separatist fallacious utterances he may make as a wild world-renowned "trouble maker" even now to his US boss. Taiwan's return to the embrace of the motherland will be merely a matter of time for it is the desire and common will of Taiwan people and the whole Chinese nation. The mighty force of advance of the Chinese nation is unconquerable. According to Wang, Yang, Lin and Zhang, Li Teng-hui will be dumped into the dustbin of history together with his "no Chinese born" obstinacy. (By People's Daily Staff Reporter Tao Shi'an)