SPEECH BY THE HON. MARTIN C.M. LEE, O.C., J.P. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, 30 OCTOBER, 1991
POLICY DEBATE 1991
On 15 September, the people of Hong Kong exercised for the first time a right long denied to, us by the British colonial government:
the right to democratically elect our own representatives. In this election, the only major issue that separated the democrats from their opponents was, quite simply, democracy. The democrats argued that Hong Kong must fully adhere to the Joint Declaration and establish a democratic system now, even if this meant standing firm against pressure from Beijing. Our opponents, however, contended that it would be better for Hong Kong not to confront China and limit democracy within the constraints of the Basic Law.
In the
The choice posed to the people of Hong Kong was therefore clear; the choice made by our people was even clearer. elections, the people of Hong Kong voted the democrats to a landslide, 16-out-of-18 victory and sent out an unmistakable message: we desire democracy as deeply and urgently as any other people in the world.
Our people have spoken loudly and firmly: We demand our right to rule ourselves and to manage our own affairs. We demand the full autonomy that was promised to us in 1984, and we will not compromise in our fight to see the Joint Declaration fully upheld. In short, we demand Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy:
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I am afraid, however, that the colonial government has deliberately ignored this crystal-clear message.
In the Governor's speech, he did not even so much as mention our first- ever democratic election; and, in failing to address the demand of the Hong Kong people for democracy and autonomy, he has betrayed a high-handed contempt for popular aspirations. Yet, in the long run, the administration ignores the people of Hong Kong only at the expense of its own credibility and effectiveness.
The administration's failure to
to address those issues of greatest concern to the people of Hong Kong is made clear by the whole series of subjects the Governor chose not even to give a single mention. The administration does not care that we are losing some 60,000 people a year through emigration. It does not care that the people of Hong Kong believe their
their post-1997 constitution, the Basic Law,
Basic Law, falls far short of the promises contained in the Joint Declaration and is in need of extensive amendment. Nor does the administration care about retirement protection for our workers or deposit insurance for those with their life savings in banks.
Given the disregard of the colonial administration for the interests of the people of Hong Kong, the duty falls upon Members
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