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FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1989
OMELCO STATEMENT ON FAC REPORT
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THE FOLLOWING IS A JOINT STATEMENT BY THE CONVENERS OF THE OMELCO SPECIAL WORKING GROUP ON NATIONALITY, MRS ROSANNA TAM, MR STEPHEN CHEONG, MRS SELINA CHOW, MR RONALD ARCULLI AND DR LEONG CHE-HUNG, ISSUED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF THE FOREIGN
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT:
"WE, CONVENERS OF THE OMELCO SPECIAL WORKING GROUP, EXPRESS OUR EXTREME DISAPPOINTMENT ON THE NATIONALITY ASPECT OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT PUBLISHED THIS EVENING.
"THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE STATED THAT BRITAIN HAS A UNIQUE OBLIGATION TO HONG KONG. WE BELIEVE THAT THE FAC HAS GRATUITOUSLY INSULTED EVEN A HARDLINER LIKE SIR GEOFFREY HOWE LET ALONE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. THE STATEMENT ON NATIONALITY WILL PROBABLY GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE MOST DISHONOURABLE STATEMENTS EVER MADE ABOUT HONG KONG.
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"THE FAC'S SUGGESTION THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MOBILISED IN AN ARMAGGEDON SCENARIO BETRAYS ANY DESIRE BY THE FAC UNDERSTAND, LET ALONE ACCEPT, THAT THERE IS A CONFIDENCE CRISIS HONG KONG NOW WHICH CLEARLY CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION. IT FAILS ΤΟ RECOGNISE BRITAIN'S CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS SUBJECTS, NOW OR IN THE FUTURE.
"THEY REJECTED THE INSURANCE POLICY ARGUMENT ON THE ONE HAND, AND ON THE OTHER THEY READILY OFFER IT ΤΟ CERTAIN SECTORS OF HONG KONG AS AN INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO STAY. SUCH A POSITION IS WHOLLY ILLOGICAL AND CONTRADICTORY.
"THE HEIGHT OF INSENSITIVITY IS THE SO-CALLED SHOW
OF BRITISH CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG BY RESCUING US FROM THE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY AND REPLACING IT WITH THE FUTURE BRITISH CONSULATE IN HMS TAMAR.
"THE REPORT IS DRIVEN BY BRITISH INTEREST RATHER THAN HONOUR AND RESPONSIBILITY. ANY SUGGESTION THAT THIS REPORT WOULD SERVE AS A CONSTRUCTIVE BACKGROUND FOR SIR GEOFFREY HOWE'S VISIT DEMONSTRATES A TOTAL LACK OF APPRECIATION OF THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION AND THE STRENGTH OF FEELING OF OUR PEOPLE.
"THIS FAC REPORT HAS DISCREDITED THE TIME-HONOURED TRADITION OF DUTY AND HONOUR."
BRITISH
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