:
1900
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL · 14 July 1988
impeachment of the executive authorities to ensure the accountability of the executive to the legislature.
On freedoms and civil rights, article 25 of the draft provides that permanent residents of the territory enjoy the right to vote and the right to stand for elections. And yet in the selection of the Chief Executive and of the legislature, some options such as the one involving the grand electoral college deny Hong Kong people those very rights. This should be borne in mind when the final decision is made on the options. As far as freedoms are concerned, speech and conscience or religious beliefs are the most sensitive. The Basic Law provides for the religious schools, courses, welfare agencies and social services, local and mainland religious bodies have to conform to non-subordination and non- interference. But this is not good enough. Provision should be made for the authority of foreign churches in ordaining ministers or bishops in Hong Kong. Article 22 of the Basic Law provides that the Hong Kong SAR shall prohibit by law any act designed to undermine national nuity or subvert the Central People's Government. Religious bodies are worried since similar clauses were cited in the Mainland when ministers were imprisoned. My view is that since article I already states that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China, article 22 is really superfluous, and should be dropped in order to allay fears.
Freedom and equality are two important elements of human rights. The provisions in the Basic Law on freedom abound. These include articles 26, 27, 144 and 151. However, there is less than specific protection of the equal rights of our more than 100 000 non-Chinese minority groups. The Basic Law em- phasises national sovereignty, these people may not be able to identify with the Chinese race and culture, but many of them have resided in Hong Kong for generations, and have contributed to our community through their enterprise. In the wake of the 1981 British Nationality Act, and the 1986 British Nation- ality Order, these people run the danger of being stateless, and have to suffer the pain of having a family and home but no country. The Basic Law focuses on Chinese nationals resident in Hong Kong, but does not provide for the equitable treatment of ethnic minorities. That should be borne in mind during further consideration of the draft Basic Law.
Sir, with these remarks, I support the motion.
MR. LUI (in Cantonese): Sir, the draft Basic Law for solicitation of opinion affects the political future, economic prosperity, and social stability of Hong Kong after 1997, and it is an historical document. It should be understood by everyone in Hong Kong. They should discuss the document and give their views. The fact that the draft is debated in this Council goes to show that Legislative Councillors are very concerned about the future of Hong Kong. In fact, ever since the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration Legislative Councillors have tried, through different means, to achieve what is best for the people of Hong Kong. Sometimes the course to the goal is checkered. For