XN000022-1989-07-05 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1989

5

UN

IN FACT, THE FAC'S ARGUMENT ITSELF WAS CONTRADICTORY, ILLOGICAL AND INDEFENSIBLE, HE SAID.

"WHILE THE COMMITTEE REJECTS THE IDEA OF PROVIDING AN INSURANCE AND POLICY TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, IT SEES FIT, ON THE OTHER HAND

AS IN ALMOST THE SAME BREATH, TO OFFER THIS POLICY TO CERTAIN GROUPS AN INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO STAY," HE SAID.

THE SECOND FALLACIOUS ARGUMENT WAS THAT BRITAIN WOULD FIND

BDTC'S DIFFICULT

ABSORB 3.25 MILLION HONG

VERY SOCIETY.

ΤΟ

KONG

INTO

IT

ITS

EMPLOYED

MR LEE SAW THIS AS APPALLING SCAREMONGERING TACTICS, TO REJECT THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY'S CALL FOR THE RESTORATION OF RIGHTS TO THE BRITISH SUBJECTS.

KONG DO "WE HAVE STRESSED TIME AND AGAIN THAT PEOPLE OF HONG

AN NOT WANT TO LEAVE THIS TERRITORY: ALL WE WANT IS THE PROVISION OF ESCAPE ROUTE IN CASE OF NEED,' HE SAID.

BUT THIS REPEATED MESSAGE SEEMED TO HAVE FALLEN ON DEAF HE ADDED.

EARS,

OF FULL WOULD BE IN

THE THIRD FALLACIOUS ARGUMENT WAS THAT THE GRANTING BRITISH CITIZENSHIP ΤΟ BRITISH SUBJECTS IN HONG KONG CONTRADICTION TO THE JOINT DECLARATION.

MR

MENTIONED

LEE DISAGREED WITH FAC'S OBSERVATION, SAYING THAT WHEN FAC VISITED PEKING, CHINESE OFFICIALS WERE REPORTED TO HAVE ΤΟ ITS MEMBERS THAT THE GRANTING OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO PEOPLE HONG KONG WAS A MATTER FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

THE

OF

HE ASKED WHY, WHEN IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR PORTUGUESE PASSPORTS

FAC

FIND SHOULD BE GIVEN ΤΟ

RESIDENTS IN MACAU, THE CHINESE DIFFICULT TO SUGGEST SOMETHING SIMILAR BE DONE IN HONG KONG.

TO

IT

"WHY

BRITAIN, CAN'T

LIKE

PORTUGAL,

COURSE?" HE ASKED.

TAKE

THE

HONOURABLE

INDEED BE A NOT

MR LEE SAID THAT, ON THE CONTRARY, THERE WOULD CONTRAVENTION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION IF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP WAS GRANTED TO BRITISH SUBJECTS IN HONG KONG.

"IF THE CONFIDENCE CRISIS CONTINUES AND PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ARE LAST RESORT. THE BRITISH LOOKING AROUND THE WORLD FOR A HOME OF

THE RISK THAT THIS WOULD CERTAINLY GOVERNMENT SHOULD RECOGNISE

THE PROSPERITY THREATEN THE OBJECTIVE OF MAINTAINING AND PRESERVING AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG.

"THIS WOULD BE A CONTRAVENTION OF ARTICLE 1 OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION IF HONG

KONG

CANNOT ACHIEVE

PROSPERITY

AND

STABILITY. HE SAID.

tr

/IN RESPONSE