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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
a
(3) The draft agreement also provides that the legislature will be constituted by elections which means changing the present system. The fact is that for a long time, there have been few representatives from the business circles among members of the British Parliament who are all advocates of democracy, forcing the governmental system in Hong Kong to become increasingly dominated by the grassroots, thus reducing representation of the business circles in the various councils. How will the government arrange for proportional representation of the various trades and professions and maintain coherence of policies so as to win the confidence of local and overseas investors? It is hoped that the government will elaborate on these in the White Paper on the further development of representative government.
Sir, with these words I support your motion.
MR. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG (in English): Mr. Chairman,
The Agreement
The motion says the Council 'welcomes the Draft Agreement on the Future of Hong Kong'. In supporting the motion, I would go further by saying that it is not only welcome, but absolutely commendable to this Council and the people of Hong Kong.
Two years ago, few people would have expected that we could get such a detailed and well-thought-out agreement. Even fairly recently, many people were expressing quite valid anxieties that the agreement would not be in detail, would not be binding or would not be widely embracing enough. Now we have a draft agreement which is more detailed than many people expected, which is binding and international, and which covers a wide range of issues that affect Hong Kong's way of life.
Earlier this year, The Outstanding Young Persons' Association, of which four members of this Council are members, published a book on Hong Kong's future called 'Candid Opinion - What makes Hong Kong Tick?'. One common theme in the book, which covered over 40 different fields and professions, was that Hong Kong's success was attributed to our legal, social, and economic systems and the freedoms that Hong Kong people have. The draft agreement covers all these areas and many more. It is encouraging to see that, although Hong Kong people did not participate directly in the negotiations and had no direct knowledge of what was being discussed, many views of Hong Kong people from all walks of life, expressed through various different channels, have been taken into consideration by the negotiators.
Having fully read the White Paper and appreciating the background to the negotiations, I think both governments have done their best to come up with an agreement acceptable to Hong Kong people. It is now up to both governments, and even more important, up to Hong Kong people to implement it. In that sense, our future is in our own hands.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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Nationality, Passports, and Freedom of Travel Being someone connected to the travel industry, I have followed this subject closely and today table a speech on the subject made on 9 August, shortly after Sir Geoffrey Howe stated that agreement on Nationality had not been reached, setting out my personal views on a possible solution. Enclosed is also a survey on visa requirements done and handed to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in May as a follow-up to a letter to Sir Geoffrey in April regarding maintaining travel privileges.
Firstly, New British Passport. In short, although I am slightly disappointed by non-transmissibility, if not for fifty years then at least till children become 18 when they are less likely to travel with parents together, I support the pragmatic way both countries have agreed to deal with this issue. I feel confident this will not erode travel privileges enjoyed by current British passport holders provided, and I repeat provided, the document issued by the United Kingdom is called a 'Passport', is called 'British', and is designed similar to other British passports. I hope the British Parliament will pass the necessary legislation as soon as possible so that these New British Passports may begin to be put into circulation by 1987, so that come 1997, there is no change as far as third countries are concerned. British Passports have a validity of ten years, so if the new ones are available by 1987 and are issued as people renew their current ones, the whole change-over will be completed by a natural process by 1 July 1997, during which period Britain is still responsible for Hong Kong and thereby in a strong position to give full backing to the New British Passport.
Secondly, S.A.R. Passport. The draft agreement states that the future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will issue passports to Chinese nationals who hold permanent identity cards of the Hong Kong S.A.R. We must try our best to gain acceptability of these passports, especially as it offers the chance to the other two million or so people in Hong Kong, who do not qualify for a B.D.T.C. passport and can currently only apply for a Certificate of Identity, to travel on a decent respectable document.
Although it is a bit early now to go into detail, may I suggest that this new S.A.R. passport have on the front only the words 'PASSPORT' and 'HONG KONG', or 'TERRITORY OF HONG KONG'. I also suggest that ways be found to have a bridging arrangement so there are no transitional problems on or near 1 July 1997.
Apart from the impracticabilities of issuing or renewing approximately one to two million of these on the same day (4 million Identity Cards is taking us a few years already), we need to bear in mind that about one thousand Certificate of Identity holders travel out of Hong Kong every day and about the same number come in every day. Even more important is that many countries insist on a residual validity of 6 months in your travel document before they stamp a visa in it, or allow you to enter even if you already have a visa.
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