TNAG-1310-FCO40-1667-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 213

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 14 March 1984

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The concern shown by the people of Hong Kong is understandable because the outcome of the talks will undoubtedly affect their whole future and t their future generations.

It is unfortunate that as yet the people of Hong Kong have no idea how the talks are really progressing. They have been reading quite a lot of speculation from the newspapers about the progress of the talks, but they cannot be sure how much has actually been discussed at the conference table and how much is guess work. This situation in which one can hardly tell truth from falsehood is much to the disadvantage of the people of Hong Kong. Those who are pessimistic are desperately looking towards migrating, thus triggering off an outflow of capital and talents. The more optimistic ones are loudly preaching empty promises, mixing reality with wishful thinking and lightly dismissing all difficulties by proposing simple-minded solutions. This has made the people of Hong Kong overlook the importance of positively contributing towards the 1997 issue. I think there is no longer any need to keep the talks confidential now that the negotiations have reached the present stage. Unavoidably the 1997 issue will have a tremendous impact on the local people; and indeed it already had. Keeping the talks confidential can hardly set their minds at ease. It will not do any good to Britain and China, either.

Both the Chinese and British governments have openly invited the people of Hong Kong to express their views. Yet how can they express their views if they have very little or no knowledge of what is going on? Any opinion voiced under such circumstances may well be irrelevant, with emphasis put in the wrong places, and little will be achieved by the efforts they put in. They may even lose their bearings because they cannot see the wood for the trees.

It is my firm conviction that both Britain and China are sincere in maintaining the continued prosperity of Hong Kong and in seeking a satisfactory solution. Moreover, I believe the solution will have to be based on what Hong Kong has already achieved. The people of Hong Kong are not in the least unfamiliar with the various objective factors that have made Hong Kong what it is today. Most Hong Kong people were born here. They have an ardent love for the place where they have been brought up. They know from personal and first-hand experience what these objective factors are. It is advisable, therefore, to remove the confidentiality of the Sino-British talks imposed at present. Instead Hong Kong people should be kept informed of the progress of the talks and of what both governments have in mind for them so that they can contribute positively based on their experiences and knowledge and express their hopes and aspirations. People can then take all these objective factors and their own aspirations together and analyse them rationally, incorporating what can be incorporated and seeking appropriate compromises otherwise. This is of great benefit and positively conducive to the continued progress of the talks and the quest for a favourable solution.