1:51
Hong Kong
[ LORDS]
[LORD BEAUMONT OF WHITLEY.] bearing in mind the support we have had from the Bishops' Benches-is united in their determination to do the very best they can for the citizens of Hong Kong, and, so far we are able, to have a modest pride in what has been achieved.
Lord Kadoorie: My Lords, it was with great regret that I was unavoidably prevented from being present at the Second Reading of the Hong Kong Bill, or the discussion which took place at the Committee stage on the 14th of this month. Unfortunately, the noble Lord, Lord Rhodes, who intended to speak today, is ill, and he has asked me to convey his regrets that he is not able to be present.
In this transition period, when the Governments of the United Kingdom and of the People's Republic of China are considering how best to adapt the future policies of Hong Kong to maintaining prosperity, it is both relevant and important for this House to know of the very strong feelings which remain in Hong Kong and of the fear that the parent may abandon his child. The obligations of filial piety in the form of loyalty to Britain and the preference to buy British have worn very thin, and all that our forebears have created— those qualities which made England the leading trading nation—are at risk. With an emergent China committed to modernisation and economic reform, England must take pains to ensure her image is not tarnished, particularly now, when this country has need of friends to rebuild its fortunes.
I believe that the undertaking to extend the transmissibility of British nationality will go some way towards repairing the damage to the image of Britain in Hong Kong because of the highly controversial British Nationality Act 1981. However, while I appreciate the statement of the noble Baroness, Lady Young, that it would not be proper as a general rule to grant British nationality indefinitely and without restrictions to the descendants of British nationals resident in a foreign country, to the best of my knowledge as yet no one has pointed to the vast difference between those British subjects who have given up their nationality by choice and those future generations who will lose their national heritage through circumstances beyond their control.
It must not be forgotten that Hong Kong has been a part of the British Empire for 150 years, and that its people have fought and died for Britain. It is essential not to allow the British commitment to Hong Kong to be eroded during the next 12 years. Britain must preserve her relationship with Hong Kong, albeit a new relationship, and England must not lose honour in the eyes of those Hong Kong British subjects who will remain British and who have much to contribute to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong; nor, for that matter, in the eyes of those who stand in witness to the actions of Britain.
Today, Britain has an opportunity which must not be missed. Therefore, I plead for continuing flexibility, understanding and co-operation with the people of Hong Kong. This will not only strengthen the commercial interest of the United Kingdom for the next decade: it will be for the benefit of all concerned.
3.35 p.m.
Bill
1152
Lord Geddes: My Lords, may I say how much I appreciate—and I hope that other noble Lords will echo these sentiments-seeing the noble Lord, Lord Kadoorie, in his place this afternoon. We have sadly missed his counsel, through no fault of his, during the passage of this Bill, as we continue to miss the counsel of the noble Lords, Lord Rhodes and Lord MacLehose.
I shall be extremely brief. Interestingly, the Bill has not changed its shape at all as it has gone through your Lordships' House. However (and this may be of surprise to the people of Hong Kong) during its passage two very important points have been achieved—perhaps more than two, but I wish to mention only two, and, indeed, the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos, mentioned them. One is that we shall be having an annual debate and a chance to discuss the progress of the Anglo-Sino agreement and the future of Hong Kong. I hope that will demonstrate to the people of Hong Kong just how much this House, and I am sure another place, is concerned with the welfare of Hong Kong, and most particularly with its people.
Secondly, I should again like to thank my noble friend on the Front Bench and, through her, the Government, for the very important concession they made in regard to the extra generation of trans- missibility of British Overseas Citizenship. As the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos said, this goes a long way to alleviate the justifiable fears of those whom it might have affected. This is a good Bill. This is a good argreement; and the Bill supporting the agreement I warmly welcome.
3.38 p.m.
Lord Gridley: My Lords, I have only one brief point to make in regard to the Third Reading of this Bill. When we were at our Committee stage, I tried to bring to the notice of the Government the great importance in any of the work necessary in Hong Kong of having expert advice from the colonial civil servants who we hope will remain and give their valuable services to the people of that territory. I was very grateful for the assurances which her Majesty's Government gave me in that connection regarding their pensions. I am sure there are loyal servants of that territory only too willing to give of their maximum knowledge and expertise.
I wish the Bill well. I think the agreement with China is a masterly achievement of Her Majesty's Government; and we wish everyone in Hong Kong all the best in the future.
3.40 p.m.
Baroness Young: My Lords, we have debated this important and historic Bill in great detail since its introduction into this House. The close interest your Lordships have taken in it has, I am sure, been welcomed by the people of Hong Kong as evidence of the concern in this House for their future wellbeing. Indeed, I have been most grateful for the support given to the Bill by the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn, which has been expressed again this afternoon, and by the noble Lord, Lord Beaumont.
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