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27
a referendum to the people of Hong Kong; unless it is because
of the China factor, that she does not want us to have it, for fear that it will set an undesirable precedent for the future
SAR Government. As to this, I entirely share the sentiments of
my honourable friend Dr. Conrad Lam in warning against the
excessive desire "to converge" with the PRC even during these 9
1/2 years of transition, to the extent of going out of our way to invite their intervention, as you seemed to have dơne in
your last visit to Beijing.
this
Sir, I welcome a close working relationship
Government and the Central People's Government.
for China to intervene
between
But we
in the
could over-do it. And we must remenber that it is a breach of
the Joint Declaration
administration of Hong Kong before 1997, by, for example, dictating to us, as she has done, as to when we may or may not
introduce direct elections. Why has not the British Government protested against such conduct? Indeed, while listening first part of your policy speech, I thought it was the speech of the Chief Executive of the SAR government.
to the
Sir, there was
time when I thought that the
British Administration here in Hong Kong was made of sterner
stuff.
Lady?
But was I wrong? Or has the Iron Lady become the Rusty