IY-NOV-1989 15:51
HKGU LUNDUN
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.
John Marie
Rm WH3 3 0x)
WAITING FOR ACTION
01 495 5000
852 3 217256
F.KI
From: boy by S. Chan
1.02
In June and July this year OMELCO came to London to urge Her Majesty's Goverment to take speedy and effective action to restore confidence to the people of Rong Kong It is now November and Hong Kong is still waiting for action to be taken.
Hong Kong has not been idle these past few months. We have worked hard to try to repair the damage done to our morale and to promote unity and a sense of purpose in our community. We have taken practical measures to show to the world Our determination to preserve and enhance our position as important international city. Plans have been announced for a new airport to be in operation by early 1997. for new port facilities, new roads and railways. and reclamation of land for new business facilities. Plans are also being drawn
also being drawn up to provide greater educational and training opportunities for our population. Our resilient economy has absorbed the blows of June and is recovering its strength. But despite all this, people have been queuing up at the consulates in search of a second passport: the emigration rate is now about 50.000 people a year.
There is a limit to what Hong Kong can do alone to restore confidence to the territory. China and Britain have the responsibility and the power to help. China has done littic these last few months to give comfort or confidence to the people of Hong Kong. But has Britain done any more?
Unique Circumstances
Hong Kong's Unique
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Alone among Britain's colonies. Hong Kong has been deprived of the basic human right of self-determination: her people could not
people could not choose independence. And because another fundamental human right has been
them right has been denied to
the right
right to democratic government - they have been given no voice in the vital decisions taken on their behalf no say when their nationality rights were stripped from them in 1962; no part to play in the negotiations about the territory's future; and - even noW no role in determining the important democratic reforms needed before the territory is returned to
China in 1997.
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Britain's
Promises
In June and July, following requests from Hong Kong and expressions of deep concern among the British people. Her Majesty's Government promised that urgent action would be taken to give greater assurance to the people of Hong Kong: that decisions would be taken on Hong Kong's political development to reflect the emerging consensus: and that Britain would raise with China the articles in the draft Basic Law
Hong Kong's constitution after 1997 that were causing anxiety in Hong Kong.
Citizenship
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V
restore
OMELCO has pointed
pointed out that, in recognition of Hong Kong's unique circumstances. Britain has a morál obligation to provide a safe and secure future for the entire population of Hong Kong: this includes a direct moral responsibility to British citizenship to all Hong Kong British subjects. The British Government have never denied their responsibility to Hong Kong. Nor have they questioned the practical need to provide protection to encourage people to remain in Hong Kong. They know that if people do not have confidence in the future and commitment to stay in Hong Kong Britain will fail in her obligation under the Joint Declaration to keep Hong Kong stable and prosperous. They have simply argued despite much evidence to the contrary that to fulfil her moral obligations would be "politically" unacceptable in Britain. Instead, they are contemplating a much more limited scheme to restore citizenship to some people: this
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