Appendix 1: The British and Chinese Positions on Hong Kong
The British Government's Position on Hong Kong
On 30 April 1974 in a written answer to a question about what stage of further constitutional advance was proposed for Hong Kong, Mr. David Ennals, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs replied:
45
"The circumstances of Hong Kong are special and make very difficult any con- stitutional progress on the path customarily followed by Dependent Territories. The situation is well understood locally.' "1
On 27 March 1974, Mr. A. Royle, formerly the Conservative Minister with respon- sibility for Hong Kong, asked Mr. Ennals in an oral question (apparently, but not explicitly, referring to military matters only):
"Will the right hon. Gentleman [Mr. Ennals] confirm that Her Majesty's Government are determined to support Hong Kong, to stay in Hong Kong and to maintain the garrison in that colony?"
Mr. Ennals [apparently in the context of the Labour Government defence review]:
... Before the hon. Gentleman leaps to his feet, I can assure him that no changes will be made affecting any part of the world without the fullest consul- tation with our allies and the occupants of the area.
After another question and answer Sir Alec Douglas-Home asked:
"Does the right hon. Gentleman [Mr. Ennals] recall that when his party, in earlier years proposed to withdraw from east of Suez, it never proposed to withdraw from Hong Kong? Does he recognise, also, the absolute importance of maintaining confidence in Hong Kong?"
Mr. Ennals:
"I can give the right hon. Gentleman that assurance. There is no doubt that Her Majesty's Government's commitments to Hong Kong will remain, and there is no suggestion at all that our presence in Hong Kong should be withdrawn.”2
On 26 April 1967 Judith Hart, then Minister of State for Commonwealth Affairs, said in the House of Commons:
"We start from a recognition of the fact that Hong Kong is quite different from any other of our Colonies. As I said in a previous debate ... because of Hong Kong's special position, it is not possible to think of normal self-government in
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.