21
WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1989
BRITAIN SHOULD NEGOTIATE A NEW LEASE WITH CHINA
TONG
YEAR
IF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO PROVIDE KONG PEOPLE WITH A SAFETY NET AGAINST FUTURE DANGER. THE ALTERNATIVE IS FOR BRITAIN TO NEGOTIATE WITH CHINA A
10 OR 20 LEASE OFTHE TERRITORY, THE HON ELSIE TU, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILTODAY (WEDNESDAY).
COMMITTEE
SPEAKING IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS REPORT, MRS TU SAID CHINA NEEDED TIME TO CONSIDER THE RECENT CATASTROPHE, NEEDED TIME TO RECOVER ECONOMICALLY AS WELL AS POLITICALLY FROM THE MESS INTO WHICH SHE HAD BEEN MINDLESSLY PLUNGED.
"AND HONG KONG NEEDS TIME TO RECOVER FROM ITS TRAUMA AND THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
TU SAID.
..
"NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE THE DECISION. WE MUST NOT DELAY, MRS
SHE SAID THE REPORT DID NOT ADDRESS ITSELF. EXCEPT IN A NEGATIVE WAY, TO THE MAIN ISSUE.
"AND THE MAIN ISSUE IS THAT. NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE CONSTITUTION MAY BE. NO MATTER WHETHER IT IS BACKED UP BY THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE COVENANTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND WHATEVER. ALL SUCH ASSURANCES MEAN NOTHING SO LONG AS THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG IS AT THE MERCY OF A SMALL BUREAUCRACY ACROSS THE BORDER WHICH TAKES LEAVE OF ITS SENSES AND MASSACRES INNOCENT. PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS, AND BRUTALLY DISPOSES OF ITS CRITICS.
MRS TU SAID BOTH SIR GEOFFREY HOWE AND THE FOREIGN COMMITTEE EXPRESSED SHOCK AT THE RECENT ATROCITIES IN CHINA.
AFFAIRS
"SO HOW CAN THEY CONTINUE TO UTTER PLATITUDES ABOUT TRUSTING AN AGREEMENT, UNLESS THEY ALSO PROVIDE A WAY OF ESCAPE TO ASSURE OUR PEOPLE'S SAFETY IN CASE THAT AGREEMENT IS BROKEN?" SHE ASKED.
CALL FOR RE-EVALUATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION
LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR.
THE
HON RONALD ARCULLI
TODAY
OF
TO
I WEDNESDAY) CALLED ON BRITAIN AND CHINA TO RE-EVALUATE PARAGRAPH 4 THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION WHICH HE BELIEVED TO BE THE KEY ANY FUTURE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.
PARAGRAPH 4 OF THE JOINT DECLARATION STATES:
/"THE GOVERNMENT