xxxvi
Jako kasettimasi au MONTMANI MANGWOPLATTE VAKKIA SZCHATRYA, PETA ARENDAM
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF
Question, That the paragraph stand part of the report, put and negatived. A paragraph—(Mr Ivan Lawrence)—brought up and read the first time. Question put, That the paragraph be inserted in the Report.
The Committee divided.
Ayes, 6
Mr Michael Jopling
Mr Ivan Lawrence
Mr Peter Shore
Noes, 3
Mr Dennis Canavan
Mr Ted Rowlands
Mr Michael Welsh
Mr Peter Temple-Morris
Mr Ian Taylor
Mr Bowen Wells
Paragraph 4.11 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 4.12 read as follows:
"In our view this is a confused argument. The proposed 'insurance policy' providing a right of abode to Hong Kong BDTCs exercisable at the individual's discretion at any time and in any situation is not in fact an insurance policy. It does not depend upon any particular catastrophe or event affecting Hong Kong. It would allow one party to that insurance policy to decide when he or she could exercise it to enter Britain. Thus, Britain would be vulnerable to large influxes of people which may be provoked by internal events in China itself rather than the situation in Hong Kong or any breach of the Joint Declaration. It is not possible to provide absolute guarantees for Hong Kong's future. We have discussed those measures which we believe will provide the best assurances for Hong Kong's continuing stability and prosperity. What Hong Kong people are seeking in addition are safeguards in case the worst happens. We have seen now what that worst could be; we must therefore consider afresh what the safeguards should be." Question put, That the paragraph stand part of the Report.
The Committee divided.
Ayes, 8
Mr Michael Jopling Mr Ivan Lawrence
Mr Ted Rowlands
Mr Peter Shore
Mr Ian Taylor
Mr Peter Temple-Morris
Mr Bowen Wells
Mr Michael Welsh
Paragraph 4.13 read and agreed to.
Paragraphs 4.14 to 4.16 read and postponed.
Noes, 1
Mr Dennis Canavan
Paragraphs 4.17 and 4.18 read, amended and agreed to.
Paragraphs 4.19 and 4.20 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 4.21 read and amended.
Question put, That the paragraph, as amended, stand part of the Report.
The Committee divided.
Ayes, 7
Noes, 1
Mr Michael Jopling Mr Ivan Lawrence
Mr Bowen Wells
Mr Ted Rowlands
Mr Peter Shore
Mr Ian Taylor
Mr Peter Temple-Morris
Mr Michael Welsh
Paragraphs 4.22 and 4.23 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 4.24 read as follows:
‘Another area in which relatively small changes could have a considerable impact in Hong Kong is that of the treatment of periods of study in the UK for residency requirements. At present study in the UK does not count towards residency requirements. Both Mr John Swaine and Sir David Ford argued that periods of study should so contribute. As Mr Swaine said, 'What a great investment we say for Britain if our Hong Kong students could choose to study in the United Kingdom, which, in the belief of many parents, provides the best standard of education in the world! They will provide the links between Britain and Hong Kong in the years ahead'. There has