WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
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+THERE CAN BE LITTLE DOUBT ABOUT THE GENERAL WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. AS YOU, SIR, PUT IT IN YOUR LUNAR NEW YEAR MESSAGE ONLY A FEW WEEKS AGO, IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WISH TO SEE IS, IN ESSENCE, THE CONTINUATION OF THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF OUR SOCIETY AND AN ASSURANCE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE. OR AS MR LOBO PUT IT EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WISH TO SEE THE MAINTENANCE OF THEIR PRESENT LIFE-STYLE AND CONTINUITY IN THE SYSTEMS WHICH PRESERVE THE IR PRESENT FREEDOMS. THAT IS THE OUTCOME WHICH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WISH TO SEE FROM THE TALKS NOW BEING CONDUCTED IN PEKING. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS MANY PEOPLE, IN MANY FORUMS, HAVE SPOKEN OUT IN ELABORATION OF THAT MESSAGE. UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE DONE SO. THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THIS COUNCIL. THIS DEBATE HAS GIVEN THEM A FURTHER OPPORTUNITY TO ADD THEIR VIEWS TO THOSE EXPRESSED BY MANY OTHERS ON THE FACTORS WHICH THEY BELIEVE MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IF THE EVENTUAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE TO SERVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG.
+DURING HIS RECENT VISIT, THE MINISTER OF STATE REMINDED US THAT, ON THE BRITISH SIDE, ANY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS WOULD HAVE TO GO TO PARLIAMENT FOR ENDORSEMENT. OTHER PARLIAMENTARY VISITORS HAVE RECALLED THAT PARLIAMENT CANNOT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. IN CONSIDERING THE AGREEMENT, PARLIAMENT WILL, AS MR LUCE MADE CLEAR, WISH TO KNOW THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON IT. IN CONSEQUENCE, THOSE VIEWS, EXPRESSED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, INCLUDING THROUGH THIS COUNCIL, WILL BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR PARLIAMENT WHEN IT COMES TO ASSESS THE ARRANGEMENTS AS A WHOLE. IN THE LIGHT OF THIS, IT SEEMS INCONCEIVABLE THAT PARLIAMENT WILL NOT WISH TO KNOW, WHEN THE TIME COMES, WHAT VIEWS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED IN THIS COUNCIL.
+ IT IS PERHAPS APPROPRIATE FOR ME AT THIS POINT IN THE DEBATE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE RECORD OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND ITS PLACE IN THE GOVERNANCE OF HONG KONG. THIS COUNCIL'S DELIBERATIONS HAVE PROVIDED HONG KONG WITH A BODY OF LAWS FOR THE GOOD GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG AND THOSE DELIBERATIONS HAVE MADE A VITAL CONTRIBUTION, OVER THE YEARS, TO THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY WHICH THOSE WHO LIVE HERE ENJOY TODAY. THROUGH DEBATES, QUESTIONS AND MOTIONS, MEMBERS HAVE REFLECTED AND ARTICULATED THE CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON MANY ISSUES, ON MANY OCCASIONS.
+MEMBERS HAVE TODAY SPOKEN ON THE ISSUE OF THE FUTURE. THEY HAVE SHOWN, ONCE AGAIN, THAT THEY SPEAK CAREFULLY AND RESPONSIBLY. THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THE IR AIM IS TO MAKE A CONSTRUCTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF AN OBJECTIVE WHICH IS SHARED BY ALL, THAT IS TO SAY, ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE WHICH WILL SATISFY BRITAIN AND CHINA AND WHICH WILL, AT THE SAME TIME, CARRY CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG. MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN WITH A DEEP SENSE OF COMMITMENT TO THE WELL-BEING OF HONG KONG. I CANNOT BELIEVE, THEREFORE, THAT THE DEBATE FOR WHICH THIS MOTION CALLS WILL, WHEN IT TAKES PLACE, DO OTHER THAN HELP, AND CERTAINLY IT WILL NOT HINDER, THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THAT OBJECTIVE.
*FOR ALL THESE REASONS, SIR, OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL VOTE IN FAVOUR OF THIS MOTION.+
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