-
industrial and office workers where five years ago there
was farm land, and mountain country. 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 has suggested. Such an enquiry would
not contribute new information about so open a society, nor
would it help 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 tonight, provide the
best foundations for this.
I want to end on a simple and straightforward point.
The
ultimate responsibility for the good government of Hong Kong
and the protection and well being of its people rests with
Her Majesty's Government here in London, and specifically
with my noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary.
I reaffirm our commitment to that constitutional position
tonight.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.