Dear Sir,

A fter reading the article about the "Cambodia-China City", the "new Hong Kong", the "City of Dreams", I felt nauseated. To think that such an idea would even be considered is appalling. The plan would eventually have Cambodia become a market colony of the Peoples' Republic of China. Have you not been tread upon and taken advantage of enough by the neighboring countries around you to recognize that such a proposal will not benefit Cambodia, but line the pockets of opportunists who seek to enslave you in a more subtle, albeit appealing manner?

Granted, Cambodia is in dire need of capital investment from abroad, but the "new Hong Kong" scheme is tantamount to prostitution of the population in order to stimulate the economy. The idea of importing 200,000 Chinese is an insult to the Cambodian people, it implies that they have no potential to develop the skills of those who would otherwise work in this Chinese "colony".

The images that come to mind, Cambodians as erstwhile slaves of Chinese merchants, is disgusting, it is furthermore an affront to Khmer pride, tradition, and culture. Such a project would just be a catalyst to further similar undertakings, which would, over time dilute the very essence of this once glorious country. No, you must not sell your very soul to the highest bidder, you are too great a people, even in your current state of despair, to bow down to those who would offer you economic gain in return for your very identity as a noble people.

Those who pondered this insane proposal should be ashamed. They should repent, and consider other more logical, sensible ideas. Cambodia can, and will develop as an attractive marketplace and tourist Mecca, but the Cambodian people must be the prime beneficiaries, after all, it is Khmer blood, sweat and tears that built the first Khmer Empire of Angkor, the future of Cambodia belongs to their descendants, not foreign tai-pans, Asian or Westerners.

- Jim Yost, Deer Park, Texas.