TNAG-1325-FCO40-1737-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 113

MAIN POINTS RAISED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE

1.

DEMOCRACY:

(a) Mr Healey argued that the real problem of democratising

Hong Kong lay in making bureaucracies more accountable rather

than producing a Westminister style model.

(b) Mr Heath pressed strongly for the introduction of democracy in

the territory, in consultation with the People's Republic of China, within a fixed time scale. A party system would not be

suitable.

(c) Dr Bray (Labour) argued for the early introduction of democratic

structures and said that Hong Kong people must determine their own future. Mass organisations would grow up spontaneously. (d) Mr Adley (Conservative) pressed the Government to encourage the

growth of democracy in Hong Kong in the near future. He said

the People's Republic of China was in favour of democracy in

Hong Kong. He proposed that the Governor should be elected.

(e) Mr Parry (Labour), Mr Ashdown (Liberal), Mr Clark (Labour) and Sir Bernard Braine (Conservative) all pressed for the early introduction of democratic structures in Hong Kong.

(f) Sir Humphrey Atkins (Conservative), Sir Peter Blaker

(Conservative) and Mr Walden (Conservative) proposed that the

existing representative structures should be developed, but at a measured pace.

2. NEED TO BE REALISTIC:

(a) Mr Healey agreed that our negotiating position was not strong.

He reminded the House that China did not need to use force, but could at any time cut vital water supplies to Hong Kong. He said that it was estimated that one-third of the population of

the territory favoured Peking, and that Peking could disrupt life when it wished. He emphasised the danger of brinkmanship.

(b) Mr Heath said that when the lease ran out in 1997 it would be

impossible to maintain Hong Kong Island and Kowloon by

themselves. Sovereignty and administration were inseparable. (c) This view was echoed by most speakers in the debate. Mr Adley

Mr

(Conservative) said that there was no miracle solution.

Amery (Conservative) said that Britain's moral commitment had to

be balanced by the realities of the situation.