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Ms Emily Lau: Chairman, I want to ask the Foreign Secretary a question on violations of human rights after 1997. I hope he appreciates that is one of the biggest fears of Hong Kong people, that the Chinese Government should want to come and settle accounts with its enemies. Maybe there are quite a number in this council and that's why we are all going to be thrown out. So I think there is real concern. And even amongst journalists they are worried, and that's why they practise self-censorship. So after '97, if people should be persecuted by the SAR Government or by the Chinese Government directly, and some may want to seek refuge abroad - some inay want to stay here and go to prison and be martyrs - but some may want shelter, what do you think is your government's obligation regarding helping these people? Do you have a special obligation or will you be just another member of the international community who may pay lip service to it and do nothing?

Mr Rifkind: We have a special obligation, is the answer to your question. We have ourselves raised human rights violations when they have happened in China itself and therefore we would hardly be likely to ignore any human rights violations that might at some future date take place in Hong Kong. But of course the historical connection, our own current relationship with Hong Kong, inevitably would give us a very special obligation, much more than any other country in the world, to take up any abuses of human rights that might appear in Hong Kong and do what would be within our power to try to end them, mitigate them or take account of the consequences of them. So the answer is, a special obligation for the reasons that I've mentioned.

Ms Emily Lau: Chairman, I did ask the Foreign Secretary about offering refuge. I mean that is if they can get out! If they've been locked-up already then I hope you will do what you can to seek their early release - like the release of Wei Jingsheng. But for those who may have a chance of fleeing, do you think Britain - or can you say right now in 1996 and say: Yes, Britain is prepared to take all these political or whatever other refugees who may be fleeing the Hong Kong SAR?

Mr Rifkind: A person who was genuinely requiring asylum in the United Kingdom and who had these links with the United Kingdom because of the Hong Kong connection, it is a matter for the Home Secretary but I would imagine such a case would be a very, very powerful case for the Home Secretary to consider. That has to be the situation, given the very close links between long Kong and the United Kingdom.

Ms Emily Lau: So. Chairman, the Foreign Secretary is saying he can't give us a categoric assurance.