XN000022-1989-06-28 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1989

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THE RESPONSE FROM THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, HOWEVER, WAS FRANKLY DISAPPOINTING.

"THEIR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING AND LACK OF WITH THE CURRENT CONFIDENCE CRISIS IN HONG KONG, BEYOND OUR BELIEF, HE SAID.

++

URGENCY IN DEALING IS TO SAY THE LEAST,

THEIR MEETING WITH THE PRIME

MINISTER,

HOWEVER. WAS MORE

ENCOURAGING.

"SHE SAW THE URGENT NEED TO HELP TO RESTORE SOME CONFIDENCE IN THE HONG KONG PEOPLE, HE SAID.

"

"ALTHOUGH SHE SAID THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES IN GIVING THE RIGHT OF ABODE TO ALL BRITISH SUBJECTS, SHE PROMISED THAT A STATEMENT WILL SOON BE MADE BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ON HOW MORE GENEROUS FLEXIBILITY WOULD BE EXERCISED UNDER THE NATIONALITY ACT AND IMMIGRATION RULES.

THAT NO BRITISH

THE BRITISH

"WE TOLD THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS MATTER WHAT POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES THERE ARE IN BRITAIN, SUBJECTS IN HONG KONG ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT. IT IS UP TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO DISCHARGE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

MR LEE SAID THE MISSION TO LONDON WAS ONLY THE FIRST STEP IN PUTTING THE MESSAGE ACROSS. THE IMPRESSION HE HAD GAINED FROM THE PEOPLE HE AND DAME LYDIA HAD TALKED TO WAS THAT NO ONE HAD DENIED THAT THERE WAS A SEVERE CONFIDENCE PROBLEM IN HONG KONG THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED.

"THE PRIME MINISTER QUICKLY ACCEPTED THAT WORDS ARE NO LONGER ENOUGH. PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WANT TO SEE ACTION, HE SAID.

**

MR LEE SERVED A REMINDER ON THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT THAT BRITISH SUBJECTS IN HONG KONG WERE BRITISH. "THEY ARE PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO ARE BORN ON BRITISH SOIL OR WHO GAVE UP THEIR NATIONALITY TO SWEAR ALLEGIANCE TO THE QUEEN," HE SAID.

"HOW CAN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT SHIRK ITS RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS IT OWN SUBJECTS? HOW CAN IT HONOURABLY FACE ITS SUBJECTS AND THE REST OF THE WORLD?" HE ASKED.

HE RECALLED THAT IN 1986, THE THEN SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DAME LYDIA, SPOKE IN THE COUNCIL ON THE SUBJECT OF MAKING FULL BRITISH CITIZENS OF THOSE WHO WERE OF NON-CHINESE DESCENT AND OF THOSE WHO HAD FOUGHT FOR THE DEFENCE OF BRITISH TERRITORY.

DAME LYDIA HAD SAID AT THAT TIME THAT: 'WE CAN ONLY ASK IN THIS WAY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT REPRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT. IF OUR REQUESTS ARE REJECTED, IT WILL ADD TO THE PROFOUND RESENTMENT FELT BY MANY OF BRITAIN'S MOST LOYAL SUBJECTS WHO WILL BELIEVE THEIR INTERESTS HAVE BEEN BETRAYED AND IT WILL BE SEEN BY THE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD AS A MEAN AND UNWORTHY DENIAL OF THE JUST CLAIMS OF BRITAIN'S MOST VULNERABLE AND DESERVING NATIONALS.'

/MR LEE