XN000022-1996-01-08 — Page 9

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Ms Emily Lau: The scheme, the BNSS, is woefully inadequate. And of course if you would want to broaden that, I mean that is a step in the right direction. But I am talking about your government, your country's responsibility for the citizens that you are going to hand over to Chinese communist rule. Do you not have a conscience? Do you not think it's disgraceful to hand these frightened people over to a regime from which they fled? and to which the British have given them shelter for so many decades?

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Mr Rifkind: Well, we all have consciences and we are all seeking to do the best we can in what are very difficult circumstances. And it is very easy to make accusations across the Chamber - it happens in the House of Commons and I'm sure it happens here even when I am not present - and therefore that is not a new phenomenon. What I do recognise is that yes, we have many obligations. What your question refers to, and I very much understood your question when it was first asked, was whether a right of citizenship which has not existed in the past should now be provided. And that is an issue that I explained to you, as you well knew, was subject to very full debate and there is an overwhelming majority, a vast majority in the House of Commons, that will not contemplate, on either side, a change of the kind that you have suggested. And I would be misleading you and your colleagues if I tried to use words which implied otherwise. That is the simple unvarnished truth.

Mrs Selina Chow (in Chinese): Mr Foreign Secretary, actually Mr Foreign Secretary, actually I intended to ask a question in relation to the British Nationality Selection Scheme, but since you have already covered that point and you have been very definite in your reply, I would like to go on to another point and probably you will be able to give us an answer that is more palatable.

Last week we had three tour groups going to Bali and three fatalities and eight casualties because of an accident and the British Embassy in Bali, or in Indonesia rather, did not give any assistance. So it goes to show that your people overseas have failed to take up its responsibility in assisting BDTC and BNO passport holders and today we have learn that the British Government and Hong Kong Government have failed to promote the consulate services that are available to BNO and BDTC passport holders and the safeguards. So the question is, will the UK Government rectify the position immediately and also inform Hong Kong officials overseas to take up their responsibilities in the same way they provide services for UK citizens? And then before and after 1997, what is the attitude of the UK Government towards the BNO passport holders? Will there be any differences? If there are not to be any differences, how are you going to ensure that this is so?

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