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century its eagerness to provide a shelter for the uprooted. gut even within the constraints of the British Nationality Acts. of 1971 and 1982, and the practical difficulties of dealing with such large numbers, the British people must still recognize a moral responsibility for the so-called subject peoples of British territories
overseas.
Perhaps, to some members, it may appear that through the tenacity and diplomatic skill of HM's Ministers and representatives in China, we have carried out that responsibility as far as humanly possible. The Agreement, it has been argued, is a better outcome than could have been expected (once the decision to enter into the negotiations had been made).
However, the concessions that have been obtained in return for abandoning both sovereignty and the principle of self-determination are not an occasion for self-congratulation. At worst they may lead to self-delusion about what could easily prove to be a settlement that is more appearance than substance.
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To put the matter squarely, there is no likelihood that in the long run a distinctive free-enterprise and, if one may so put it, free-thought social system can be maintained in Hong Kong. The impending departure of Britain will open a power-vacuum in the Colony. Indeed it has begun to do so already. It will be replaced by the influence and authority of the People's Republic of China. Local Hong Kong politicians who align themselves with the desires and the style of operation of their new masters will be given support and will succeed; those who do not so align themselves will go under. Whatever labels are maintained in the interests of surface decency and international respectability, the social and political system will soon conform, in practice, to that of the mainland. The Chinese people of Hong Kong are well aware of this. The vast majority had, however, no intention of indicating their views to the Board of Assessment. Το do s.o was to invite eventual reprisals at the hands of the Chinese authorities.
We would urge you to press upon HM Government the need for the following measures, to be adopted immediately after the signing of the Agreement:
1.
That HM Government take the initiative in launching an international effort (with more especially the EEC, the Commonwealth, and the members of the NATO alliance) to bring into being an Operation Haven. This would provide. funds, co-ordination, and re-settlement quotas in a large number of participating countries, to permit those holders of British Dependent Territories' passports from Hong Kong as well as minority nationality passport or travel document holders in Hong Kong, to settle in host countries abroad if they so wished.
no
In fact, the numbers will probably be small. The purpose is to establish the principle that, in the last resort, British citizen or his
or her offspring will ever be
handed over against his or her will, permanently and irrevocably, to another nation.
G
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