Hansard record of the Foreign Secretary's opening
statement in the debate which sets out the Government's
views on Hong Kong issues, and in particular the
development of representative government in Hong Kong, in
some detail.
We and the Hong Kong Government alike wish to see the
development towards more representative government in
Hong Kong continue steadily.
Neither we nor they would
wish to impose any particular form or model. Hong Kong
is unique in many ways, and it will need to develop its
own system of government suited to its own requirements.
Such a system should respect the wishes of the community
as a whole and reflect Hong Kong's special circumstances
and conditions, in the future as in the past.
In considering this issue the British and Hong Kong
Governments have taken care to consult the people of Hong
Kong at every stage. This was the purpose of the review
which took place in 1984. It was also the purpose of the
current review. This carries out in full the commitments
made in the 1984 White Paper, which recorded the state of
public opinion in Hong Kong in 1984 on the subject of
direct elections to the Legislative Council, and stated
that the issue would be further considered in a review to
take place in 1987.
The outcome of the current review will be published
by the Hong Kong Government in a White Paper on 10
February.