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Hong Kong
[MR. RANKIN.]
ད་
26 APRIL 1967
If the progress so openly manifest in Hong Kong is to be maintained full co- operation from all the people is necessary.
Mr. John Tilney (Liverpool, Waver- tree): Does not the hon. Member agree that under the new electorate of the local urban council as many as 300,000 could be on the register, and yet only 25,000 have seen fit to put their names on the register? In fact, there are 5,000 fewer than on the original one.
Mr. Rankin: I am sorry that in the time available I cannot be drawn aside from the tenor of my remarks, but, to begin with, I do not accept the urban council. However, I shall not say more about that now.
I was saying that if the progress so openly manifest in Hong Kong is to be maintained, then full co-operation from all the people is necessary. This means that they must be identified in every way with the future of their homeland and its prosperity. That is the point at which the working party, the urban council and all other organisations, statutory and non- statutory, can play their part. Most of
all, the Government, themselves, in my view and in that of many other people in Hong Kong, are far too selfish; for the simple reason that they keep too much power to themselves. Yet that very fact confers on them a greater responsibility to establish the conditions which make orderly progress possible and to provide the educational groundwork on which a democratic society can be built.
The Hong Kong Government must come down from Olympus, and bring their people into their councils; give them the feeling of belonging; which they do not possess now. That would be the strongest defence which the Government could build against the external dangers which they fear.
In fairness, I must point out that those dangers come from quarters not always mentioned. The difficulties provoked by conflicting ideologies are not disputed, but they are not eased by the presence of ships of war in Victoria Harbour, nor by the aircraft carrier which I saw last October lying off the New Territories and covering Canton. These American vessels were anchored in territorial waters giving offence to China and violating British and Hong Kong neutrality in the war now
Hong Kong
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being waged in Vietnam. True, the soldiers of the United States are coming to Hong Kong for rest and refreshment. and that is a worthy reason for bringing them to the Colony, but surely they could have been transported in civilian craft when their visit is wholly peaceful.
If trouble comes to the Colony, it can arise from sources other than those in Taiwan or China. It might originate from the grip which the United States is now getting in Victoria and Kowloon. Her consulate harbours the biggest spy agency in South-East Asia numbering about 600, and when they are not engaged in their favourite game of China-watch- ing, they are interfering in the legitimate business of Hong Kong merchants in order to influence them against trading with China. In my view, one step towards stopping these malpractices would be to give the people of Hong Kong a say in running their own affairs after their own fashion and for the benefit, not just of a few, but for all the people in the Colony. It is to that course that I would ask my hon. Friend to dedicate herself tonight. 11.50 p.m.
The Minister of State for Common- wealth Affairs (Mrs. Judith Hart): I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin) for providing this further opportunity to discuss Hong Kong. We do not often have such an opportunity. We last had an Adjournment debate on the subject-- as the hon. Member
Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Mr. Tilney) will recall-some weeks ago, but we can rarely discuss the Colony's problems at length.
For many years, my hon. Friend has closely concerned himself with Hong Kong's problems, and has continually stimulated the interest of the House in them. I know how many friends he has there, and, as he has shown tonight, how well he knows its politics and its perplexities. I was glad to hear his re marks about the integrity of the Govern ment officials there, which I warmly We all hold in high regard underline. the Governor and the Colonial Secretary and their staffs.
My hon. Friend's last point was very important, as there is a genuine misunder standing about the matter. It should be understood that Hong Kong is an import ant centre for air and sea communication and that visits from foreign aircraft and
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In view of th remaining mor dealing with th constitutional Kong. We sta the fact that Vol. 745