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War on Want is a company limited by guarantee, registered in London. Registered Charity No. 208724.
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Company Secretary: Benedict Birnberg
Rt Hon Lord Carrington
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London SW1
5 March 1982
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Dear Lord Carrington
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CASE OF MS CHRISTINE VERTUCCI AND THE HONG KONG ADMINISTRATION
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I am writing to you to ask what is your attitude to the decision of the Hong Kong Government to effectively deport Ms Christine Vertucci and whether or not you will support her petition asking for a review of the decision to refuse. her an extension of stay.
Since Hong Kong is a British Colony the British Government obviously holds ultimate responsibility for the way the colony is run. I understand that one argument as to why party political democracy is not allowed in Hong Kong is that the Government of China would not want Hong Kong to become an example of a Western-style democratic state. Of course it is understood that the location and status of Hong Kong presents delicate problems in terms of our relationships with China, especially since the colony only holds the lease on the major part of its territory.
However, if Britain has acceded to the wish of a one-party state to prevent the evolution of political democracy on a part of British territory it is rather understandable if the activity of pressure groups becomes one of the focal points for opposition to and exposure of some of the problems that normally would be dis- cussed by political parties in a freer society. Perhaps Britain should not continue to bow to alleged or implicit Chinese pressure to prevent the evolution of political democracy in Hong Kong. In the meantime the very least that a Conservative Government might do would be to tolerate a certain level of free debate and discussion about the economic and social conditions in Hong Kong. The Asia Monitor Resource Center and individuals like Ms Vertucci have played a role in continuing this kind of debate and the research work that goes with it. I do not expect you to like it but should we not lump it?
It is hard to believe that Ms Vertucci represents some kind of totalitarian subversion. It seems more the case that she is trying to prevent the British colonial authorities from behaving in a totalitarian fashion. If we are against totalitarianism and the stifling of opposition in Britain and Poland then how should we behave, in your opinion, in Hong Kong?
Yours sincerely
Terry Lacey
Terry Lacey
General Secretary