HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
5 July 1989
2113
I am very pleased to see that OMELCO has actually issued a seven-point statement setting out our strategy for the near future. I think my colleagues have devoted much of their time on the course. I would like the British to know we are not giving up here, we are not giving up Hong Kong. Do they dare to give us up!
Sir, I support the motion.
CHIEF SECRETARY: Sir, the long awaited Foreign Affairs Committee gives us substantial comfort on the Vietnamese boat people issue and on human rights. It has some stimulating suggestions on the development of democracy but is very disappointing, to say the least, on the nationality issue.
I will touch briefly, Sir, on each of these issues.
It is no mean achievement to have secured the wholehearted support of the FAC for our policy on Vietnamese boat people. Until the members of the FAC came to Hong Kong it was difficult enough to persuade any backbench Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom that there was a problem over the Vietnamese boat people let alone get them accept that Parliament should be doing anything about it. The statement in the conclusion of the report, I quote, "we believe that, in the absence of any significant levels of voluntary repatriation however regrettable it may be, there is no alternative to mandatory repatriation for those who are screened out" represents a major step forward in gaining understanding and acceptance of our policy. We are most grateful, Sir, for their support but it is clear to me that it would not have come about had we not put our case to them clearly and strongly. Here at least we can record a success.
I turn now to the question of political reform. The FAC report makes quite radical proposals for the development of the political system in Hong Kong up to 1997. But in making these proposals the report stresses, I quote again, "we also believe even more strongly that Hong Kong people must be allowed to decide on their own system of government before 1997 as well as after 1997."
Sir, there is, I believe, general agreement in the community that the development of democracy should be speeded up in the run-up to 1997. We accept that view, and will now be re-examining the decisions contained in the 1988 White Paper concerning the composition of the Legislative Council in 1991. In so doing we will be considering not only the number of members to be directly elected at that time but also the position of officials, and the numbers of appointed members and those elected through functional constituencies.
It is most important that any proposals for a faster pace of democracy have the full support of this community. I am sure that Members of this Council will take the lead in building on the consensus inside and outside this Chamber which will provide the Government with a clear view from the people of Hong Kong on which to base its decisions.