HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 5 July 1989
2063
Sir, 1.5 million people from various sectors of the community in Hong Kong took to the street last month. I would like to take this opportunity to tell Sir Geoffrey HOWE seriously that their participation in the march has adequately shown that the people of Hong Kong do have strong sentiments in matters of national self-esteem and we are proud of that. With our strong will and creative power, a small fishing village has been developed and transformed into a world famous financial, economic and trade centre. Obviously, we are reluctant to abandon our achievement. Since all these have been made possible through a century of British rule, we appreciate her effective administration as well as her political, economic and legal systems. We pin high hopes on these aspects of her rule. As long as our escape route is ensured, we shall go on living on this piece of land generations after generations. There are people in Britain, some hold public office and some do not, who see us as a terrible, uncivilized and uncultured population like the subjects of her Asian-African colonies of the last century. They have also overlooked the fact that we have developed with time. Hong Kong has all the sophisticated features of an international city. Hong Kong is a thriving city and is prosperous. How regrettable that they should be so ignorant and unwise!
Sir, machine gun shots from the capital of China have shaken up our confidence for the future. How to ensure that the Sino-British Joint Declaration can be truly implemented so that Hong Kong may maintain her prosperity and stability, and how to realize the "one country, two systems" policy so that two different social systems, specifically the socialist economic system and the market economy of the capitalist system, can play their respective roles separately here and across the border will be the main targets to which we shall direct our efforts hereafter. Our confidence hinges upon these factors. Therefore, it is imperative that we should formulate a good Basic Law. However, the cornerstone on which the Basic Law is to be formulated must be compatible with our existing socio-economic conditions. Limited in its natural resources, Hong Kong has to rely, to a high degree, on economic activities for its survival. It is therefore important that the overall interest of Hong Kong people should be given priority before we can maintain the kind of prosperity and stability we are after. On our political system, the Foreign Affairs Committee proposed that 50% of the seats of the Legislative Council should be returned by direct election in 1991 and political democratization be fully completed before 1997. Sir, I must say I cannot agree to this proposal. I maintain that such proposal is not conducive to boosting local confidence. On the contrary, too big a stride may lead to unbalanced political and economic development. It disturbs the public and does harm to the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.
Sir, I firmly believe that democracy covers various aspects and the success of a democratic political system hinges upon its compatibility with various specific social factors such as economy, employment, livelihood, education and social services. Any attempt to introduce hasty changes would only disrupt our social and economic conditions, and leave the general public susceptible to the manipulation and the rhetoric of the politicians. It would bring extremely unfavourable effects on the interests of our society as a whole. Sir, I do not fancy for any democracy which may be achieved at one stroke and I absolutely disagree with the committee which