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Events in China:
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[LORD MOLLOY.] appreciate that, and it will be one of the best things we could do to safeguard Hong Kong, particularly in regard to future relationships with China.
Lord Glenarthur: My Lords, so far as the introduction of a greater degree of democracy into Hong Kong is concerned, over recent months we have been trying to introduce representative government in Hong Kong at a pace which commands the widest possible support in that territory. Clearly opinion in Hong Kong is now evolving. We shall need to respond to that. A number of suggestions have been made. Under the present circumstances we could not ignore a clear call from the community there for
faster pace of development than that which has hitherto been envisaged.
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Lord Elwyn-Jones: My Lords, in addition to the actions that the Government have outlined, which we on this side of the House fully support, has consideration been given to the involvement of the United Nations in this matter? What has happened in China is a flagrant and outrageous breach, not of ordinary basic human rights of protest but the right to live. The turning of tanks and guns against students in peaceful protest has outraged the conscience of the world, I venture to think.
China is a member of the United Nations; I am not sure that it is not a member of the Security Council. Accordingly, is it not imperative now that instead of the deafening silence from the United Nations, we should enlist and seek the involvement of the UN itself in this grave current crisis in world affairs? That is what it is.
Lord Glenarthur: My Lords. I certainly agree with all that the noble and learned Lord says about the conscience of the world being outraged by what has been seen. I can tell him that a Statement was issued on 5th June on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General which I shall certainly read out if that would be the noble and learned Lord's wish.
The Statement states:
"The Secretary-General is greatly saddened that it was felt necessary to resort to force in Beijing over the weekend and that, as a result, many civilian lives were lost. The Secretary-General is most mindful of the Charter's requirement that the United Nations should abstain from intervention in regard to matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of states. He very much hopes, however, that utmost restraint will be exercised in the difficult situation that prevails".
I believe that that is the answer to the noble and learned Lord, although I understand the force of the point that he raises: that normally the Security Council addresses itself only to conflicts between states which might lead to a threat to international peace and stability.
Lord Geddes: My Lords, I warmly welcome and fully endorse the remarks by my right honourable and learned friend in another place as repeated by my noble friend this afternoon.
The word that comes to my mind, as indeed it came to the mind of the Governor of Hong Kong on Sunday, is horror at the appalling performance by
Implications for Hong Kong
754
the troops of the People's Republic of China last Saturday and Sunday and subsequently.
The point on which I wish to dwell extremely briefly is the very positive comment that my noble friend repeated in the Statement-I hope that I have his words correctly-of there being scope for flexibility regarding the right of abode of BDTC and BN(O) Hong Kong citizens. Several comments have been made by noble Lords this afternoon regarding right of abode. I am not trying to go on to too fine a point of law. However, I am aware that Mr. John Swaine of Amalco, in evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee in Hong Kong, put forward the proposal that holders of those passports should have the right of multiple entry into the United Kingdom, thereby giving them the opportunity to acquire the residential qualification for full British citizenship.
Indeed, my noble friend (in col. 880 of Hansard) 23rd March stated-and this is perhaps significant in this context:
on
"By far the most common basis for granting British citizenship is that the people concerned are already resident in Britain and have met the residence requirements set out by law".
Is this perhaps an area where-again if I have his words correctly-there is scope for flexibility regarding right of abode? It is of enormous importance to the citizens of Hong Kong to give them, in particular at this time, this lifeline on which to cling.
Lord Glenarthur: My Lords, yes. I note the views of my noble friend on that. I can tell him that his memory of the words used in the Statement is correct. We shall look urgently and sympathetically at the scope of flexibility. I am quite sure that the question of multiple entry is a matter that can form part of that examination.
Lord Morris: My Lords, I thank my noble friend for repeating the Statement. Is there any truth in reports that there have been attempts to block broadcasts by external services of the BBC-that is the World Service, and in the vernacular-by the Chinese authorities? Is my noble friend aware that on my numerous visits to the People's Republic of China these broadcasts count as a critically important window to the outside world? Will my noble friend do everything that he possibly can to ensure that these broadcasts are heard as audibly as possible?
Lord Glenarthur: My Lords, there were earlier reports that there had been some jamming. I believe that these have not been validated. I can also tell my noble friend that the external services of the BBC have increased the amount of broadcasting in Mandarin that is taking place at the moment.
Lord Parry: My Lords, before the House leaves. this very important Statement about this awful international event, is the Minister able to give us a little more information about a very important aspect of the Statement which talked about the Government's intention to see how they could co-operate with humanitarian agencies in relieving the immediate pressures? Will he accept that quite often in these situations it is what one is able to do