STABLE HOUSE
FUNTINGTON
CHICHESTER
WEST SUSSEX PO18 9LG
TELEPHONE: BOSHAM (0243) 575344
The Right Honourable
Douglas Hurd P.C.,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
King Charles Street,
London S.W.1
Dear Mr. Hund,
20th November 1989.
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"Outpost" is the magazine of the Hongkong Diocesan Association, read largely by members now living away from Hongkong. The articles in this issue were written soon after the tragic events of June in Beijing but we feel that they should be circulated as widely as possible and I have sent copies to Mrs Thatcher and to Mr Nelson who is our local M.P.
I should explain that we have had three generations of our family in Hongkong. We still keep a flat there and maintain close links with a wide circle of friends and professional contacts.
Like many others we were well aware of the value of the Sino-British Agreement on the future of Hong Kong although I could never subscribe totally to the concept of "one country, two systems". Long before the events of this summer, however, it was obvious that the Hong Kong people were doubting both the willingness of the Chinese leadership to carry out their side of the "bargain" and the determination of the Brirish government to hold them to it. This doubt showed itself most clearly in increased emigration, especially amongst the young professionals and middle management, in the years between 1985 and 1989. The tragic events of June have only accelerated a movement which was already happening and which must have dire results for Hong Kong.
If the rate of emigration continues to increase Hong Kong will come to a grinding halt even before 1997. The size and strength of the demonstrations in the territory this year revealed a depth of emotion unknown in all previous crises and was a great surprise to many of us. Even if such demonstrations could not be supported now because "there are people from across the border with cameras" there remains a deep anxiety about the future and the feeling that Britain will do little to dispel this. China seems more determined than ever to impose a basic law which falls far short of the Joint Declaration and the British people appear not to care what will happen to the citizens of a former colony.
If Hong Kong people are given the right of abode in Britain they will no longer need to emigrate to establish a right elsewhere. They will have the confidence to stay in Hong Kong and maintain its prosperity. It is only if they stay that the territory will be able to keep its position as a leading financial and trading centre in the Pacific region. The British would surely benefit from this but they are driving from Hong Kong the very people who will be able to make it viable.
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