GOVT G
TX 310/LIS 76.
23TH JANUARY, 1981.
DIS, EXCOMMISSIONER
SPEECH SEVEN
:
FEELINGS ARE RUNNING PARTICULARLY STRONGLY AMONGST YOUNG PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE, HOWEVER MISTAKENLY, THAT IT IS THE PRIME INTENTION OF THIS BILL TO TURN THEM INTO SECOND CLASS CITIZENS. SECOND CLASS CITIZENS NOT ONLY IN THE EYES OF THE BRITISH BUT ALSO IN THE EYES OF PEOPLE FROM OTHER NATIONALITIES WITH WHOM THEY COME IN CONTACT.
THESE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SEE VERY CLEARLY THE INFLUENCE THAT WE CAN HAVE OVER THEIR FUTURE. THEY WISH TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE MAINTENANCE AND STRENGTHENING OF THE LINK BETWEEN HONG KONG AND BRITIAN IN ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL TERMS. THEY CAN PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN BUILDING UP BRITIAN'S TRADING POSITION NOT ONLY IN HONG KON AND WITH CHINA BUT IN THE PACIFICE BASIN AS A WHOLE, WHERE ECONOMIC EXPANSION IS ON A SCALE UNEQUALLED IN THE REST OF THE WORLD.
,
IN SHORT, THEY RECOGNISE THAT THEIR DESTINY IS INTERLINKED WITH THAT OF THE BRITISH. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND IT WOULD BE FOLLY TO RISK THE ALIENATION OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG IN THE COURSE OF WHAT IS MEANT TO BE NO MORE THAN A TIDYING UP OF OUT OF DATE NATIONALITY LAWS.
END.+++
29404 HKGOVT G
28404 HKGOVT G