XN000022-1996-07-10 — Page 2

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Importance of HK's democratic development stressed

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Britain will have every right and every self-interest in keeping a close watch on the implementation of the Joint Declaration after 1997, the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, said in his lecture to the Centre for Policy Studies at the Royal Institution in London today (Wednesday).

In his speech entitled "Hong Kong - 12 months to the handover", Mr Patten noted that most international attention had focused on one argument that Britain had with China over the important matter of Hong Kong's democratic development.

In defence of Britain's actions, the Governor refuted suggestions that Britain had been engaged in last minute attempt to fast-forward democratic development in Hong Kong.

"We have attempted to ensure that the agreed process of democratisation is carried through fairly. We have kept our side of the bargain. Hong Kong and the world will see whether China keeps her side of it," he said.

"Everything we have done has been wholly in line with the letter and the spirit of the Joint Declaration, the Basic law and other understandings between Britain and China."

The Governor also noted that a wholly elected and mostly democratic legislature had not destroyed Hong Kong's business friendly environment, nor had it saddled Hong Kong with the burdens of welfarism.

"History suggests that it is open and accountable government which is most likely to protect the hallmarks of capitalism," he said.

He said political development in Hong Kong had speeded up as it changed from being a rather closed colonial society to an open, international city.

"People ask more questions. They want more answers. They expect information not brush-offs. They insist on being involved in the debate about their present and their future," said Mr Patten.

To ensure the Joint Declaration really meant really what it said, the best way of putting flesh on the bones of the promises about Hong Kong people running Hong Kong was to let them do so through the most obvious channel - the ballot box, he said.