*
There appears no end to this exodus. If anything,
recent figures confirm the trend. Emigration to Canada rose 86%
in 1986 and soared an additional 149% in the first nine months of
In the case of Australia, visa applications increased 78%
in 1985-86 and rose another 67.2% in 1986-87.
1987.
The Agreement was widely considered to be good when it
was made public. It is now incumbent upon both the British
government and on Parliament to see to it that the provisions of
the Agreement are fully and faithfully reflected in the Basic
Law. This applies to "elections" as well as other concepts, such
of the executive to the legislature, human
as
"accountability"
rights and civil liberties.
An accusation that has recently gained currency is that
a "small handful of people" in Hong Kong are out to ruin Sino-
British relations. This accusation is not merely unfair but is
misleading as well as misconceived. All that is being requested
is that Britain and China adhere to the terms of their own
Agreement. Hong Kong would be the first to benefit from good
Sino-British relations including mutual compliance with the terms
of bilateral treaties such as the Agreement. It therefore
follows that neither Britain nor China should remain silent if
one should perceive the other to be acting contrary to the
provisions of the Agreement. A democratically chosen government
in Hong Kong supported by the people and acting in their
interests would be the only way to implement the policy of "One
Country, Two Systems" and it should be a goal, not only of Hong
Kong, but also of Britain and China.
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