2052
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL —
5 July 1989
However, the report recommends the British Government to grant the right of abode to only a small minority of Hong Kong people. I believe that as the British Government's position now is to apply "greater flexibility", it is not difficult for her to accept this recommendation. But in doing so Britain will no doubt demonstrate to the world her irresponsible and selfish attitude as well as her stupidity in believing that she is doing the right thing. It is because no one will believe that Britain, who is only prepared to confer the right of abode in the United Kingdom to a small number of Hong Kong people, will be able to give a lead in the international community by taking up the difficult task of lobbying for support. We need only look at the sort of leadership that she provided in resettling Vietnamese refugees stranded in Hong Kong; then we can see how hypocritic she is in being irresponsible on the one hand and trying to assume leadership on the other.
Secondly, regarding the speeding up of the democratization of our political system, the FAC proposes that to tie in with a fully directly elected Legislative Council in 1995, 50% of the seats should be returned by direct elections in 1991. Superficially, this recommendation is very encouraging to the local democrats, but its feasibility is in doubt. The report has ignored the stance and reaction of the Chinese Government in the past. It has also failed to urge the British Government to take up this proposal with the Chinese Government and try to get it implemented. I still remember how difficult it was for us to secure a commitment in the White Paper on the Development of Representative Government published in 1988 for the introduction of 10 directly elected seats to the Legislative Council in 1991. Based on what observations or arguments did the FAC make such a bold suggestion after a lapse of only one year?
I must emphasize that I am not unhappy to see this recommendation come to fruition, but I want to express my indignation over the way the Hong Kong and British Governments made a mockery of public opinion in the days when we were arguing about the pace of political development. Moreover, the FAC thinks that by speeding up the pace of political development, Hong Kong people will feel assured and thus the British Government may not have to take up the responsibility which she is unwilling to shoulder-to provide Hong Kong people with an "escape route". The FAC is irresponsible in making such a proposal which ignores the actual circumstances. Obviously, the political wisdom and courage of the British Government and Members of Parliament to shoulder responsibility have vanished in the face of party politics and political interests.
The third point is reflected by the refugee policy. The FAC believes that the British Government may eventually agree that Hong Kong should introduce the policy. of mandatory repatriation of boat people. This is understandable because the Legislative Council has already indicated its unwillingness to undertake further financial commitments for the support of boat people who continue to pour into Hong Kong. Realizing that the burden will inevitably be shifted to herself, Britain is then willing to strip off the mask of humanitarianism procured at Hong Kong people's expense. Another example of generosity at other people's expense with total disregard of the actual situation is the proposal that the People's Liberation Army