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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 5 July 1989
Kong citizens. Britain must not delay and must not make unacceptable excuses to avoid its responsibilities.
Sir, with these words, I support the motion.
MR. LAM (in Cantonese): Sir, the question of Hong Kong people's right of abode in the United Kingdom has, in recent weeks, captured the attention of every citizen in the territory. Public concern has been so intense that I should waste no time but go straight to my views on the matter.
Britain's commitment to Hong Kong stems from the fact that Hong Kong is a British dependent territory. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee openly admitted this in its report on Hong Kong released several days ago. Sir, the restoration of citizenship to British subjects in Hong Kong is an obligation Her Majesty's Government should honour. In no way should a limited scheme be offered as an alternative to meet Hong Kong's demand for the right of abode. Confidence in our society hinges upon Britain's ability to honour the commitment. It is this confidence that gives our society the impetus to survive. It is this confidence that encourages our brains to stay by giving them the sense of belonging that Hong Kong is their home. And it is this confidence that attracts foreign capital to the territory. This confidence, once shaken, will inevitably induce a drain in brain and capital. The British Government's readiness to accept responsibility is now being put to the test. Hong Kong people, suffering from the confidence crisis, have been crying out loud in urging the British Government to give the right of abode. Sir, I would be grateful if I be allowed to reiterate the importance of confidence. Confidence in Hong Kong is built partly on the Sino-British Joint Declaration and partly on our right of abode in the United Kingdom. The Joint Declaration has given the guarantee that Hong Kong will remain a capitalist society with existing lifestyle unchanged under the principle of "one country, two systems". Yet an escape route should be provided so that people can leave Hong Kong should the accord fail and the Basic Law lose its binding effect. What Hong Kong people are striving for is their right of abode in Britain — a right, indeed a vested right, to which they are properly and fittingly entitled.
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To go a step further, Sir, I would like to point out that to live in a place is completely different from to be given refuge. To live in a place is not all that simple. There are constraints to which a settler is subject, like job and living condition constraints. Just what the British Government need to do is to open the door and grant us the right of abòde. The problem will be solved through this symbolic gesture. For this reason alone, I believe the British Government should take heed of our views. It is the responsibility of Britain to maintain Hong Kong's stability and prosperity during the period of transition. Now that our confidence has already shaken, the only remedy is for Britain to grant us our right of abode. The United Kingdom, our sovereign state, should bear the responsibility and honour its commitment.
With these remarks, Sir, I support the motion.