5 July 1989
一九八九年七月五日
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
香港立法局
(c) the granting of right of abode, right of entry or
right of readmission means the removal of immigration controls for Hong Kong BDTCs, this would be contrary to the fundamental principles of immigration controls;
(d) the argument for an insurance policy is confusing;
(e) Britain could be vulnerable to large influxes
of people provoked by internal events in China rather than those in Hong Kong;
Australia and United States want, could be
Para 4.9
Para 4.12
Para 4.12
(f) certain categories of people
those that Canada,
Para 4.19
given the assurance (by the granting of British citizenship);
(g) Britain will be ready to help us when we become refugees;
and
Para 4,15
63
(h) Hong Kong has historically had a highly mobile population.
Para 4.18
These assertions, Sir, only show too vividly that the FAC is trying to absolve Britain from its constitutional and moral responsibilities towards the people of Hong Kong.
Since the British memorandum is not part of the Joint Declaration, to grant British citizenship to Hong Kong BDTCs would not constitute a breach of the treaty. It is within the powers of the British Government to do so if the will is there. As to the argument that no BDTC granted British citizenship would be able to become the Chief Executive and so on, there is nothing to worry about. After all, Hong Kong can but have one Chief Executive and a handful of top government officials. Even the granting of the right of entry or the right of admission would defeat the purpose of our call for the restoration of Hong Kong people's right of abode in Britain. Hong Kong people want to stay in Hong Kong, not to leave Hong Kong. We can stay and will want to stay if, and only if, we are assured that there is nothing to be worried about and that, in the worst scenario, we have Her Majesty's Government to turn to for a home of last resort. The argument for an insurance policy is therefore not a confused argument. If Britain is so confident in the Joint Declaration, why should it be so worried about possible mass influxes of Hong Kong people? In the extreme case of an Armageddon scenario in Hong Kong, is Britain prepared to stand aside and keep Hong Kong people away? Categorization is divisive. It is demoralizing for those who do not get the insurance. Leaders in different sectors in the community may be instrumental to the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong,