APPENDIX XI
Statement made by The Senior Member,
Sir S Y CHUNG, at the Airport Prior to Departure for London on 19.1.85
Good Evening, ladies and gentlemen. As you know, I'm off to London tonight where I look forward to joining my two UMELCO colleagues, Miss Maria TAM and Mr Peter C
WONG.
Although the visit was arranged at very short notice I'm pleased to see that they are both having a very busy time there. They were at the Foreign Office within hours of arriving in Britain and met the Assistant Under Secretary, Dr David Wilson, and the Head of the Hong Kong Department, Mr Tony Galsworthy. That same afternoon they went to the House of Commons and met prominent MPs from all Parties.
I will join them tomorrow and on Monday morning we will meet the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Sir Geoffrey Howe, and the Minister with Special Responsibility for Hong Kong, Mr Richard Luce, as well as other MPs. On Monday afternoon, of course, we will attend the debate on the Hong Kong Bill.
As you know, Mr Enoch Powell is to call on the House of Commons to decline to give a Second Reading to the Hong Kong Bill.
You will be aware that my two other colleagues in London are expressing UMELCO's support for the Order-in- Council procedure so that the special status for the 2.6 million Hong Kong BDTCs after 1997 may be clearly established prior to ratification of the Joint Declaration. I hope there are no unexpected developments which will disrupt the smooth passage of the Hong Kong Bill during the Second Reading, but we cannot afford to take any chances and it is therefore important that some of us should be in London together with the Governor to be available for consultation as necessary. UMELCO have always
been concerned to watch over and protect the interests of the people of Hong Kong and our trip to London this time is part of that process. We particularly welcome the support the media is giving to us.
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