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Question:
[24 FEBRUARY 1981]
y independent state. So, Hong Kong continues as Crown Colony with a governor and council. I think the noble Lord, Lord Brockway accepted the reasons for this as I have described them. I think I detected that he understood that.
Within that system there is the urban council dealing with local district affairs and recently there have been two White Papers, to which I draw attention, on pro- posals for improving local district administration. The fact remains, though, that Hong Kong has colonial status and a non-elected Government. It is the rela- tionship with China which is the prime factor. For years, Hong Kong has provided important services for China, for example in trade and foreign currency. In return, Hong Kong buys water and other supplies from China. In the past five years, as relations between China and the Soviet Union have worsened, Hong Kong's role has become even more important to China. The help and advice of industrialised countries in the West is needed too. Hong Kong is the natural channel for such services and it is also a vital source of entrepeneurs' skills. More than ever the interests of China and her improving relations with the West converge with the economic well-being of Hong Kong. China increasingly needs the services which' Hong Kong can provide.
In recent weeks it has become apparent that the Chinese Government are feeling the effects of the world recession and that they may have been trying to do too much too quickly. Retrenchment has therefore been announced in Peking where some of their projects for the future are concerned. Bonds none the less continue to be forged with Western countries. That is good news for Hong Kong. For its part, Hong Kong seems able to meet increasing activity and demands for services. That is good news for China. The Government in Peking have been turning to the West for technical expertise and, within present economic constraints, would like to order plant and equipment for projects from the West. Here are opportunities both for Britain and for Hong Kong. As a result of recent and new contacts with Westen countries, the Peking Government are aware that numbers of English-speaking visitors have been coming to their country. These visits are likely to be mutually benefi- cial. This is where I have been involved in a very small way, and I shall outline how because it is a good illus- tration of the trend which I am describing.
The Chinese Government have requested the Thom- son Foundation to be consultants in starting a new English language daily newspaper in Peking. I am a trustee of the Thomson Foundation. I would point out that it is distinct from the Thomson Organisation. The Foundation was established by the late Lord Thomson (Roy Thomson as many of us knew him) about 16 years ago. Its purpose is training and education in journalism and television for countries which can benefit. The Chinese appear to have made their request because the Chinese Government feel the lack of a daily newspaper in the English language. I have a quotation from the Minister responsible in the Chinese Government. What he has said about this is:
*We hope to make the English language paper a success, so that our friends abroad will better understand China and China's views about major world issues ".
Our team went to Peking last month and they have H.L. II G
Hong Kong
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started an editorial training course there. I saw two of them in Hong Kong when I was there before Christmas. They were instructing at a course for Hong Kong journalists. The first issue of the new newspaper is expected early in May. I have in my hand the first dummy of the paper, which will be called the China Daily. That is a very tangible new link between China and the West.
In the relationship between China and Hong Kong we have to take into account the difficult matter of illegal immigrants. Hong Kong has absorbed huge numbers of refugees, including a considerable number of Vietnamese boat people. But there is a limit to the numbers that can be absorbed. There is a real danger that this small area could be swamped by refugees and illegal immigrants. The British armed forces, including the Gurkhas, have had the unenviable task of catching intruders --mostly at night-with very long and un- comfortable hours. The soldiers who have been carrying out that task have done so with fortitude and good humour. I hope that I shall not be regarded as partisan in saying that because the British battalion doing the two year tour of service there now with the Gurkhas is the regiment from northern Scotland where my home is, the Queen's Own Highlanders. That job has fortunately become less arduous recently because of the change of policy last October, when the Government in Hong Kong decided to drop the principle known as touch base". That is to say, if an illegal immigrant were to become established in a household with an address, he could then be issued with an identity card. Now illegal immigrants will be returned when apprehended, even if they have found themselves an address in Hong Kong.
I am told that the result is that before October the average of illegal immigrants being caught was about 260 a day; it is now about 20 a day. This is important because it is an example of the armed forces of Britain working with the Chinese border forces, mainly in the interests of Hong Kong--because it is Hong Kong which will suffer if swamped by refugees. I should like to join with the noble Lord, Lord Goronwy- Roberts, in paying tribute to Sir Murray MacLehose, the present governor. I point out that not only has he been asked to extend his term there but his predecessor, Sir David Trench (and I remember visiting Hong Kong when he was in office) also had his term of office extended as a result of pressure within Hong Kong. On the occasions when I have been in Hong Kong under both governors it has been the Chinese, not in the Administration, but the Chinese people living there- and I address this particularly to the noble Lord, Lord Brockway--who have been saying to me: We want the governor to stay on, and we hope his term will be extended ". That is hardly the kind of request one would get from people one met casually if there was this great gulf between Administration and the people, despite the anomalous colonial status.
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I have described the developing co-operation between China, Hong Kong and Britain. Of course, the question of what is to happen in about 16 years' time, when the lease of the New Territories is due to end, is a very important matter. But neither on this nor on the conditions, social, welfare and housing, in Hong Kong can I agree that a Royal Commission would be appropriate. A Royal Commission would
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