XN000022-1997-04-23 — Page 18

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SCA on Annual Report on HK

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Nicholas Ng, at the motion debate on "Annual Report on Hong Kong 1996 to Parliament" in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

The Annual Report on Hong Kong 1996 to Parliament, which is the subject of today's motion debate, is the twelfth in the series. The purpose of such reports is to keep Parliament informed of developments in Hong Kong on a regular basis, given its strong and continuing interest in the territory.

Under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the UK Government is responsible for the administration of Hong Kong up to 30 June 1997. The publication of the Annual Report series demonstrates the UK's interest and commitment in Hong Kong.

Further, as a co-signatory of the Joint Declaration, the UK is fully committed to ensuring the implementation of the important principles embodied in the Joint Declaration, i.e. the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong" and "a high degree of autonomy". The continued application of these principles will be fundamental to ensuring that Hong Kong maintains its prosperity and stability. The obligations on both the British and the Chinese Governments to ensure the continued application of these principles are well known to Members and the community. The preparation of the Annual Report on Hong Kong helps the UK Government keep track of important developments in Hong Kong, and ensure that their obligations to Hong Kong can be fully met.

Senior British officials have time and again stressed that the UK's commitment to Hong Kong, both political and moral, will not stop at the transition. In the 1996 Annual Report, the Foreign Secretary has specifically stated that the British Government and Parliament and all those in the UK with any kind of interest in Hong Kong will remain committed to Hong Kong over the next five decades.

Although the 1996 Report is the last in the series before the transition, the Foreign Secretary, in his statement issued on 20 December last year, had undertaken to report to Parliament on Hong Kong at six-monthly intervals, starting with a report on the period January to June 1997 and promised that these six-monthly reports would continue at least as long as the Joint Liaison Group existed, i.e. until the year 2000. The reports would focus on the work of the Joint Liaison Group, covering the implementation of the Joint Declaration, with special reference to the protection of human rights in Hong Kong.