25.
CONFIDENCE CANNOT BE REBUILT OVERNIGHT.
IT CANNOT
EVEN BE BUILT ON QUITE THE SAME BASIS AS BEFORE. IT
WILL DEPEND CRUCIALLY ON HOW CHINA ACTS, BOTH TOWARDS
HONG KONG AND TOWARDS HER OWN PEOPLE. AS A MATTER OF
PLAIN FACT, CONFIDENCE CANNOT BE AS STRONG AS IT SHOULD
BE UNLESS AND UNTIL CHINA HAS AN OPEN, STABLE AND
CIVILISED GOVERNMENT WHICH FINDS PEACEFUL AND
CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS OF MEETING ITS PEOPLE'S CONCERNS.
26. THIS IS ONE MAJOR REASON WHY WE HAVE MADE CLEAR
OUR UTTER CONDEMNATION OF RECENT BRUTALITIES IN CHINA,
BOTH IN WORDS AND THROUGH A SERIES OF PRACTICAL
MEASURES. WE MUST USE WHAT INFLUENCE WE HAVE TO GUIDE
CHINA'S LEADERS BACK ON TO BETTER PATHS, AND IT WOULD
BE WRONG AS WELL AS DEFEATIST TO ASSUME THAT WHAT WE DO
AND SAY CAN MAKE NO DIFFERENCE. OUR ACTIONS HAVE, OF
COURSE, A MUCH BETTER CHANCE IF THEY ARE NOT TAKEN IN
ISOLATION: AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE CONCERTED SO CLOSELY
IN THIS CRISIS WITH OTHER EC MEMBER STATES AND A
VARIETY OF WESTERN PARTNERS.
27. THESE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS CAN DO MUCH TO HELP
REBUILD HONG KONG'S CONFIDENCE TOO. BUT THE FIRST AND
MAIN RESPONSIBILITY RESTS WITH US. MY LORDS, THAT IS A
RESPONSIBILITY WE ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO UPHOLD.