HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 5 July 1989
2099
colleague within the context of the OMELCO Constitutional Development Panel, for example, the best formulation to ensure that the four cardinal principles in the PRC's constitution will not apply to Hong Kong, and how best to safeguard human rights in Hong Kong. I personally am swayed by Mr. Martin LEE's arguments particularly on the question of human rights.
Sir, I now wish to speak briefly on the future political system. The Foreign Affairs Committee, in essence, recommends a speedier process of democratization prior to 1997 when Hong Kong is still Britain's responsibility. I had always believed that Hong Kong could move and should move faster towards democracy and had advocated direct elections for 1985 and then 1988. Both times I failed. Whilst I personally welcome any speedier move in this direction, I am reminded that our slow progress in the past can partly be attributable to the Hong Kong community being divided or even split on this very question. I was very much heartened by the consensus honourable Members of the two Councils reached towards the end of May. There now appears to be cracks. Earlier, divergent views had been expressed by my honourable colleagues. We had, for example, Mr. HUI Yin-fat and Mr. Martin LEE arguing for full democratization prior to 1997, and Mr. NGAI Shiu-kit and Mr. POON Chi-fai against, and there were other Members too. I believe their views to be sincere and with the long-term interest of Hong Kong in mind. Here, Sir, I wish to appeal to all concerned, both within and outside this Council, to remain united in spirit in the pursuit of our common goal, that of "one country, two systems" and "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong". I wish also to urge honourable Members to re-examine the issue of executive/legislature relationship. We had previously settled for what might be termed a quasi-ministerial system. It is now time that more thought ought to be given to full ministerial system, practised and proven to be successful in so many different countries. I hope to reconvene the OMELCO Constitutional Development Panel soon and hope to arrive at certain decisions and recommendations.
Sir, I am not asking people not to rock the boat; I am asking us to build a new ship when this one we are in is destined to be blown up in 1997. Let us build the new ship together. Let us not quarrel and fight, lest our present ship of state would sink before the new one is even built.
With these words, Sir, I support the motion.
MR. CHOW (in Cantonèse): Sir, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons has published its report on Hong Kong. The release of the report has brought no encouragement to the people of Hong Kong who have totally lost their confidence, but rather has proved further the British Government's betrayal of the Hong Kong people. In retrospect, when the FAC promulgated its guidelines of work in January 1989, it was indicated that the aim of their hearing was to review the implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Yet, the FAC has tried to make haste to release its report some 20 days after the Beijing incident with one of the paragraphs pointing out, by way of supporting argument, that China would continue