5.
MUCH OF OUR DEBATE TODAY HAS FOCUSSED ON WHAT WE
SHOULD DO TO RELIEVE THE MOST OBVIOUS AND IMMEDIATE
CONCERNS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE: UNCERTAINTIES ABOUT
NATIONALITY AND RIGHT OF ABODE; PROGRESS TOWARDS
DEMOCRACY; THE HEAVY BURDEN OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE.
IT IS EASY TO REACT EMOTIONALLY; TO SAY "SOMETHING MUST
BE DONE"; AND TO MAKE SUPERFICIALLY-ATTRACTIVE
SUGGESTIONS. BUT THESE ARE VERY COMPLEX PROBLEMS, MADE
A THOUSAND-FOLD MORE DIFFICULT AND PRESSING BY THE OUTRAGES
IN CHINA. WE MUST FIND MEASURES WHICH OFFER A PROSPECT OF
PRACTICAL AND DURABLE SOLUTIONS. WHEN WE HAVE DECIDED
WHAT IS BEST WE WILL NOT HESITATE TO ACT. BUT I HAVE
TO SAY, MY LORDS, THAT WE SHALL SHUN "QUICK FIX"
OPTIONS WHICH RELIEVE THE ANXIETIES OF TODAY ONLY AT
THE EXPENSE OF STORING UP CHRONIC DISTRESS FOR THE FUTURE.
JOINT DECLARATION
6. WE CANNOT UNDO HISTORY OR GEOGRAPHY. HONG KONG’S
FUTURE HAS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF BOTH. I WELCOME THE
WHOLESALE SUPPORT VOICED TODAY FOR THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT
DECLARATION. WITH ITS PROVISIONS FOR HONG KONG TO KEEP
DEMOCRATIC
HER TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE UNDER A FREE-MARKET,
SYSTEM, WITH POWERFUL INTERNATIONAL LINKS AND A HIGH DEGREE
OF AUTONOMY, THAT TREATY IS THE CORNER-STONE OF THAT FUTURE.
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3
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17.
MY LORDS, THAT