HONG KONG
LEGISLATIVE 香港立法局 ————————————一九八九年七月五日
COUNCIL
5 July 1989
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as to encourage them to stay, the committee has in fact lent weight to the value of the passports as a form of insurance policy.
Another coincidence is the FAC's call for the British Government to solicit help from the international community in providing refuge to our people in the case of an Armageddon scenario. The committee would have to be quite uninformed to be recommending action which the government has already undertaken. In any case, all efforts should be directed towards the prevention of an Armageddon scenario, not the preparation for its aftermath. It is Britain's duty to see to it that there will be no Armageddon scenario. We do not fancy the prospect of becoming refugees. That is why we need the confidence boost now so as to ensure this cataclysmic happening will not come about.
But what I regard the major let-down of the report, and I suppose I can likewise be critical of Sir Geoffrey's visit, is an unwavering determination to ignore the single most urgent problem that our people are facing. It is simply one of fear fear of a Tiananmen scenario in Hong Kong, fear of a regime which would go to any length to maintain its supremacy, fear of the loss of freedom to our children, fear of the breakdown of the value systems that we have taken for granted, and so the list goes on.
"The disease of the heart can only be cured by the medicine for the heart.'
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That medicine badly needed now for the Hong Kong heart is the feeling of being free to stay or go. Once that freedom is affirmed, many will stay.
Whoever understands and acts on this understanding is a true friend of Hong Kong. Let us untangle ourselves from the meaningless arguments surrounding the insurance policy concept. It really does not matter what one calls it — life- boat, emergency exit, escape route — we must feel it exists, it is there, it is real. Without it, Hong Kong will lose its will to fight on. With it, Hong Kong will go on from strength to strength to create more records and miracles.
We are all part of Hong Kong, and proud of it. For us, nothing is impossible. We are the experts on Hong Kong, and we are the experts on China. We know what inclusion Britain must secure in the Basic Law in order that the "one country, two systems" concept can be realized. We also know the pace of democracy best suited for Hong Kong. We have achieved consensus before and we will do so again. All these will give true meaning to the Joint Declaration but all these are only achievable if our people do not lose heart!
Britain can choose the easy way out by following the FAC line on nationality and run the risk of losing the respect of Hong Kong and the world.