The Honourable Mrs. Elsie TU, C.B.E.
杜葉錫恩
Member of the Urban and Legislative Councils, Hong Kong
香港市政局議員,立法局議員
-2-
Mr. Patten has made a great song about wanting Hong Kong to be represented by Mr. Michael Sze in particular, and several others scarcely known to the Hong Kong people. He also claims that Hong Kong has always been represented in the past ten years. The Governor is a newcomer to Hong Kong, and there are two fallacies in his claim:
1.
Michael Sze does not represent, and never has represented the people of Hong Kong. He is not even popular with them. If he went to Beijing he would represent the Governor's views which he likes to equate with the Hong Kong people's, as well as the views of a small minority that agree with the Governor for mixed reasons.
2. In the past, in order to take part in negotiations with China, Hong Kong officials (e.g. Eric Ho and Donald Liao) had to take British nationality, a point the Governor knew nothing about. It appears that Michael Sze has not done so, and the Governor is therefore demanding new pre-conditions. This must be a strong sticking-point with the Chinese side, because Michael Sze has been pushing hard for Patten's package, and has made himself very unpopular with many people. The Chinese will certainly know this.
The British Government is fully aware of the sensitivities of the Chinese Government. For historical reasons they are almost paranoid. Knowing this situation, is there any reason why you should throw Hong Kong into a panic, not even to get a few more seats but merely to give two votes to more voters? One is forced to suspect a motive, either to aim at giving more votes to a certain party, or (as many believe) to build up Mr. Patten as a democratic hero in Britain where the people know nothing about the real situation but are misled into thinking this is a battle for democracy. The ordinary people couldn't care less about more votes because they don't trust politicians anyhow. So why destroy our future? Is it any wonder that the Chinese suspect ulterior motives, especially when even in 1990 after Tienanmen Square, you made no such demands?
Are you going to allow a handful of radicals to persuade you to break international agreements made over the past ten years? Do you not realise that two years after the 1995 elections, if they go by Patten's plan, we shall be in a worse situation when the train stops and is shunted back instead of going straight through? Can you honestly claim to be seeking the best deal for the Hong Kong people?
I personally have nothing to gain. But I love the Hong Kong people and will oppose either the British or the Chinese Government for their sakes.
Legislative Council Building
8 Jackson Road, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: 5264027
Fax: 8452444
香港中區戻臣道八號立法局大樓
55 Kung Lok Road, 6/F
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Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: 3422414, 3898599
Fax: 3434854, 3895048
九龍觀塘功樂道55號七樓