WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1989
24
CHINA MUST APPRECIATE NEED FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT
CHINA MUST BE URGED TO APPRECIATE THE NEED FOR THE EARLY IMPLEMENTATION OF FULL DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS. AND GOVERNMENT OF THE TERRITORY BY HONG KONG PEOPLE, THE HON CHENG RON-KWAN TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN THE
MOTION DEBATE ON THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT, MR CHENG SAID SINCE THE EVENTS IN PEKING, THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAD BEEN WELL AWARE OF THE NEED FOR DEMOCRATISATION TO PROGRESS AT A GREATER SPEED.
NOTING TIAT THE FAC CONCLUDED ITS REPORT WITH A SPECIFIC PROPOSAL THAT FULI, DEMOCRACY IN THE FORM OF UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE BE ACHIEVED BEFORE 1997, MR CHENG SAID IT REMAINED TO BE DECIDED WHETHER THE OMELCO PROPOSAL FOR THE MODEL OF THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE REVIEWED.
"OBVIOUSLY THERE IS GOOD REASON FOR THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN THE LEGCO TO BE APPROPRIATELY INCREASED IN 1991," HE SAID.
MR
CHENG POINTED OUT THAT THE FAC'S VIEWS ON THE QUESTION OF THE SAR CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATURE FOLLOWED THE LINES TAKEN BY MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AND SHOULD THEREFORE WARRANT FURTHER CONSIDERATION IN REVIEWING THE DRAFT BASIC LAW.
MR
IN LIGHT OF THE EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM THE EVENTS IN PEKING, CHENG SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO CAREFULLY AND CRITICALLY RE-EXAMINE ARTICLE 18 OF THE DRAFT BASIC LAW WHICH RELATED TO THE APPLICATION OF RELEVANT NATIONAL LAWS BY CHINA ON THE HONG KONG SAR IN CASE OF
WAR, TURMOIL OR EMERGENCY.
"THE PEKING EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT THE HONG KONG PEOPLE THAT MARTIAL LAW MAY BE DECLARED IN ANY PART OF A CITY OR REGION BY THE STATE COUNCIL IN CASE OF SO-CALLED COUNTER-REVOLUTIONARY VIOLENCE, OR ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER.
*IT IS THEREFORE TRUE TO SAY THE FEAR OF THE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG OF THE IRRATIONAL INTERPRETATION OF ANY SITUATION WITHOUT A LEGAL BASIS IS QUITE OBVIOUS.
"I WOULD GO BEYOND WHAT THE COMMITTEE HAS STATED AND SUGGEST THAT IN THE REVISION, THE STATE OF WAR, TURMOIL OR EMERGENCY BE PRECISELY DEFINED AND THE CONDITIONS FOR DECLARATION OF MARTIAL
LAW, IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, BE CLEARLY SPELLED OUT," MR CHENG SAID.
HE SAID THE FAC'S OBSERVATION ABOUT THE STATIONING IN THE HONG KONG SAR OF MILITARY FORCES SENT BY THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT TALLIED WITH THE GENERAL PERCEPTION OF HONG KONG PEOPLE WHO HAD STRONG FEELINGS AGAINST THE APPEARANCE OF THE PLA IN THE URBAN AREA OR ANYWHERE IN THE REGION.
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