MAIN POINTS RAISED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE
1.
DEMOCRACY:
(a) Mr Healey argued that the real problem of democratising
Hong Kong lay in making bureaucracies more accountable rather
than producing a Westminister style model.
(b) Mr Heath pressed strongly for the introduction of democracy in
the territory, in consultation with the People's Republic of China, within a fixed time scale. A party system would not be
suitable.
(c) Dr Bray (Labour) argued for the early introduction of democratic
structures and said that Hong Kong people must determine their own future. Mass organisations would grow up spontaneously. (d) Mr Adley (Conservative) pressed the Government to encourage the
growth of democracy in Hong Kong in the near future. He said
the People's Republic of China was in favour of democracy in
Hong Kong. He proposed that the Governor should be elected.
(e) Mr Parry (Labour), Mr Ashdown (Liberal), Mr Clark (Labour) and Sir Bernard Braine (Conservative) all pressed for the early introduction of democratic structures in Hong Kong.
(f) Sir Humphrey Atkins (Conservative), Sir Peter Blaker
(Conservative) and Mr Walden (Conservative) proposed that the
existing representative structures should be developed, but at a measured pace.
2. NEED TO BE REALISTIC:
(a) Mr Healey agreed that our negotiating position was not strong.
He reminded the House that China did not need to use force, but could at any time cut vital water supplies to Hong Kong. He said that it was estimated that one-third of the population of
the territory favoured Peking, and that Peking could disrupt life when it wished. He emphasised the danger of brinkmanship.
(b) Mr Heath said that when the lease ran out in 1997 it would be
impossible to maintain Hong Kong Island and Kowloon by
themselves. Sovereignty and administration were inseparable. (c) This view was echoed by most speakers in the debate. Mr Adley
Mr
(Conservative) said that there was no miracle solution.
Amery (Conservative) said that Britain's moral commitment had to
be balanced by the realities of the situation.