TNAG-1042-FCO40-1292-Possible-Royal-Commission-on-Hong-Kong-and-its-future-House--1981 — Page 13

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Question:

[24 FEBRUARY 1981]

an outstanding by the highest standards, and a record of which the people and Government of Hong Kong, can be justly proud.

On the question of employment, which the noble Lord, Lord Goronwy-Roberts, raised, it is perhaps worth noting that the legal minimum age of employment was raised from 14 to 15 in September last year, which has helped on the problem, of course; and the employ- ment of children under 14 has always been prohibited in Hong Kong.

But

Hong Kong is sometimes criticised as being undemo- cratic; indeed, the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, made that point in his speech tonight. It has no elected legislature, unlike the other remaining dependent territories which support populations of any size. then, Hong Kong occupies a unique geopolitical position and it is not surprising that it has developed its own unique and highly effective method of monitoring and responding to public opinion. The Government spend vast amounts of their resources on assessing public opinion and in involving the man in the street in practical administration. A very recent example of this can be seen in the proposals to set up district boards, with a significant elected element, throughout the territory. This is not mere window-dressing. It is a practical measure to improve the quality of local government in one of the world's most densely popu- lated areas. In any event, window-dressing is not a skill which the Hong Kong Government have chosen to learn or use, nor indeed would their people allow them to do so.

All this adds up to a striking success story. The ever changing face of Hong Kong symbolises a spirit of adventure, of self-help and enterprise, based on political and economic confidence. Nowhere is this better seen than in the growth of the new towns in the New Territories, where communities of up to half a million people each are springing up to provide homes for a new generation of industrial and office workers where five years ago there was farm land, and mountain territory. Nothing could better demonstrate Hong Kong's pride in its present and confidence in the future.

I must therefore say that I see no justification for the sort of Royal Commission on Hong Kong which the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, has suggested. Such an inquiry would not contribute new information about

Hong Kong

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so open a society, nor would it help it to plan for the future. Indeed, it might in itself raise doubts and thus undermine stability. There is no evidence that new institutional arrangements would serve Hong Kong better than the existing ones. What the territory needs is the scope for its resourceful people to develop their society and consolidate the economic basis on which they have already built so much. I am confident that the present policies of Her Majesty's Government, for which I have been glad to note so much support here this evening, provide the best foundation for this.

My Lords, I should like to end on a simple and straightforward point. The ultimate responsibility for the good government of Hong Kong and the protection and wellbeing of its people_rests with Her Majesty's Government here in London, and specifically with my noble friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary. reatiem Juur commitment to that con- stitutional position tonight,

Felixstowe Dock and Railway (No. 2) Bill

Returned from the Commons with the amendments agreed to.

Written Answer

NEW COMPANIES: REGISTRATION

Lord Glenarthur asked Her Majesty's Government:

What were the average times taken by the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to arrange registration of new companies in the years 1960 and 1980.

Lord Trefgarne: The average times in days taken to register new companies were:-

England and Wales Scotland

Northern Ireland

1960 1980

12/13

10/12

5/6

10/11

7/8

14/15

House adjourned at twenty-four minutes

past eight o'clock.