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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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Hong Kong is so different from that in China because we have a free economy passed and enacted into laws of Hong Kong. Secondly, the democratization process in Hong Kong should proceed as quickly as possible. Adjournment on discussing Basic Law offers Hong Kong a chance to move forward in our democratic system. I think before 1997 we should try to complete the democratization of the political system. On the other hand, there are a lot of Hong Kong people now in China who are prevented from coming back to Hong Kong. I understand a student has been arrested during the past day or something about it. If we do not do something now, after 1997, there is nothing we can do to help the citizens of Hong Kong to protect their personal safety and freedom which will again defeat our confidence. In this connection, I strongly urge the Hong Kong Government and the British Government to use all channels and means to help the Hong Kong residents, students or other people to make them return to Hong Kong. In view of this, at this important moment, it is meaningless to discuss the Basic Law and I would like to take this opportunity to say that what was done by this small group of Chinese leaders is cold-blooded and unacceptable to me.
deleted and done away with so that we can have a true democratic society and a capitalistic type. From now on, we must have the inhuman rights or law Hong Kong. What we need now is to look at ways of safeguarding our freedom and have this written into our laws. For example, we must now prescribe our human rights covenants. As long as we have human right covenants, we will be able to ensure that our freedom that we enjoy today be retained. In this respect, we must proceed with the work right away. Secondly, in order to let this high degree of autonomy succeed, I think in the transition period something must be done at once. It is observed that during the past two weeks, Hong Kong people joined force together. The whole society has moved from a society with political apathy to a highly co-operative society. We must now consider to ensure that everyone can take part in Legco Election in 1991. I would suggest the number of directly elected seats should be increased from 10 to at least 20. We should try to have practice in a high degree of autonomy. We should adopt the 1/3 system i.e. 1/3 should be appointed members and official members, 1/3 from directly elected and other 1/3 from the functional constituencies. Thereafter, really practical action must be done now to ensure that we would have a high degree of autonomy in the future.
MR. FREDERICK K. K. FUNG (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, I think the issue of Basic Law is inseparable from China. The Beijing students used sit-ins methods to demand to have democracy in China. The democracy in China is directly related to Basic Law in Hong Kong. We can see that this peaceful and non-violent method to handle the issue has touched the heart of many people in China and the people in Hong Kong. Apart from having Beijing residents support and protection to the students, our Hong Kong Chinese and overseas Chinese all think that these students are worthy of our support since they touched the heart of Chinese everywhere and they have rebuilt the affinity of Chinese people in China, and this really was the best time that the Basic Law was to be discussed and how the Basic Law could be converged with the constitution of China. Unfortunately, a small group of Chinese leaders chose to use tanks and machine guns to slaughter the people to solve the problem. It is shocking and beyond my expectation and it is difficult to solve the problem now. I think it is meaningless to discuss the Basic Law now. When the Central Government with a small group of leaders did not respect the constitution, the Law and resolve the social and political problems by peaceful means, I don't think we can trust the leaders to respect the constitution when Hong Kong is returned to China in 1997. It does not mean that we shouldn't do anything right now because there is still 8 years from now before 1997. A lot of things can happen in China in eight years' time. As we all know from TV information and other sources, these leaders are very old. After 8 years, will they still be in the high position? Therefore, I think that the problem in China does not mean that there is no hope for Hong Kong. But we must do some work to prepare ourselves fully for the advent of 1997. There are two ways to go about it. First of all, we must make sure that all international human rights covenants must be...
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, on 4 June 1989, it is a day in China in history. In the city of Beijing, armed forces together with tanks crazily killed people who were engaging in peaceful means and for this, I feel a deep sense of sorrow and anger and I would like to extend my greatest respect and sympathy to those who died and were injured. I think that those who died and who are wounded have awakened the heart of all the Chinese all around the world. So that we are now more concerned about our race and our country. We are in a more dedicated atmosphere to fight for democracy and Hong Kong. In this incident, the action to be taken by us should not disturb the search for the truth. This certainly has its positive incentive. As Chinese, in stability and prosperity of the society, the methods that we adopt should be peaceful and lawful. In the past few weeks, many organizations or individuals have put forward a lot of useful and constructive comments and many of these comments and proposals were already in the course of implementation. I would like to put forward one present means for consideration of the general public.
people took part in their gathering are counter-party, counter-revolutionaries, and rumour makers. They are now being arrested and therefore we must systematically collect evidence. We must gather all our documentaries, visits, sectors, and by relevant bodies. Through this information and evidence, we and our records etc. and these information could be compiled by the legal bodies. This evidence could help those who were arrested and who are likely to be prosecuted. If necessary, this evidence could be presented to international human rights organizations and their courts so that international pressure could be brought to bear on China. It is hoped that China will in future not resort to suppress those who want freedom and democracy and who want to search for the truth. People who died in the incident have already died. I believe all Chinese in the world hope that the Chinese empowered in China should learn something from...
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