TNAG-1310-FCO40-1667-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 249

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 14 March 1984

Yet I personally feel that in order to reach a perfect agreement, both Governments must understand correctly the views of the people of Hong on any proposal for Hong Kong's future.

No matter what the reparesentative nature of the Legislative Council is, it is nevertheless the highest policy-making body and one of the principal consultative machineries in Hong Kong. All its members have the common aim of serving the people of Hong Kong whole-heartedly. We are Hong Kong belongers, and cannot evade our duty on the question of Hong Kong's future. Therefore, the Legislative Council should play a major role in collecting views and wishes of the Hong Kong people. Today the motion before this Council is: that any proposals for the future of Hong Kong should be debated in this Council before any final agreement is reached. I fully support this motion because after holding talks for over one year, it is believed that both Governments must have reached certain tacit agreements on major principles, and that a preliminary plan on future arrangements for Hong Kong must have been drawn up. I am of the opinion that it is the right time to announce to all the people in Hong Kong the contents of this preliminary plan.

After the preliminary plan is announced, the Legislative Council, other consultative bodies (e.g. the District Boards) and all the people in Hong Kong will have a chance to discuss and study the new plan, to see whether the elements for maintaining Hong Kong's stability and prosperity can be retained.

Through open discussion in the Legislative Council, the people of Hong Kong may understand the views of the Legislative Council on the preliminary plan, and to suggest or supplement, and object or agree to such views.

All people in Hong Kong may also express their views openly on the issue. This applies particularly to the ordinary people. Although they have been deeply concerned with the future of Hong Kong, they have so far remained the silent majority because of the lack of concrete information on the issue and the channels for so doing. I hope the Legislative Council debate can improve this situation so that the Council may have a better understanding of the wishes of the local people.

Through such debates, this Council will be able to collect further and more constructive views and in turn reflect more accurately the opinions of all Hong Kong people on the future of Hong Kong and on any plan that may be put forth, for the consideration of the parties concerned, so as to assist both Governments in reaching an even better agreement.

Sir, with these remarks, I support the motion.

MRS. FAN delivered her speech in Cantonese:

督憲閣下:本人支持羅保議員這項動議。

本人支持的理由有二。第一,我覺得,香港人最終的目的是保持香港的繁榮和安定,凡 是生活在香港多年的人,從他們經驗的累積,與他們對本地環境和特色的深入了解來看,