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3.22 p.m.
Hong Kong Bill
[ 28 MARCH 1985]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young): My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time.
Moved, That the Bill be now read a third time. (Baroness Young.)
Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos: My Lords, I believe that the House appreciates the way in which the Government have been prepared to consider the amendments proposed in both Houses and also to make considerable concessions in the course of the passage of the Bill thus far. This co-operative attitude of the Government in responding to the suggestions of honourable Members in another place and of noble Lords in this House has in fact improved the Bill and has also increased the confidence of the people of Hong Kong.
All of us have from the start fully understood the apprehensions of the population of the territory and the special problems of the ethnic groupings which have been referred to by almost all the speakers in our debates thus far. The House has treated this Bill with the utmost gravity. We want to be certain that everything that is humanly possible is done to secure the future prosperity of the territory and the happiness of the people of Hong Kong.
The agreement with the Republic of China is a historic document and if its objectives are fulfilled between now and 1997 and thereafter, Hong Kong can look to the future with confidence. The reports of the assessment officer and the independent monitoring team, as well as the opinion polls which appeared in the Hong Kong newspapers, reassured us about the views of the people. There are bound to be doubts and fears, but the people of Hong Kong have shown a determination to tackle the future with hope and with realism. They are a remarkable people, as their history thus far has shown.
The noble Baroness referred to the changes made to the Bill when she spoke in our previous debates on Second Reading and during the Committee stage. These, as I have said, have been most helpful, and a most recent statement on statelessness made by the noble Baroness on 14th March has, I believe, been well received. I have received correspondence, as no doubt have other noble Lords,
noble Lords, indicating that the concessions made on this point have increased even further the confidence of the people, particularly with regard to the position of non-Chinese British Dependent Territories citizens and their children, which was a matter of acute worry from the start. The fact that a second generation child descended from a Hong Kong BDTC who was a BDTC otherwise than by descent will be entitled to be registered as a BOC has relieved much anxiety, especially among those of Indian origin.
The other changes which have been made are equally welcome. The new title of British National (Overseas) has been found acceptable by all sections of the community. Furthermore, the decision to allow a full debate on draft orders in council on nationality legislation before they come to the formal stage which allows only an hour-and-a-half of debate is right and
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sensible. We are also glad that this new rule will apply in this House as well in the Gunner place. We shall be able to debate this preliminary draft legislation as well as the other place.
I feel sure that the people of Hong Kong will have been impressed by the number of noble Lords who have shown a great knowledge of their affairs and an affection for the territory. I am also greatly reassured-and I am sure noble Lords share my view-that this is not to be the last debate on Hong Kong in this House. We pressed for an annual report on Hong Kong and the right honourable and learned gentleman the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary agreed that such a report would now be published. As I have said, there are many noble Lords in the House who both know and feel deeply about Hong Kong and they will be able to initiate debates on progress if they feel that it is necessary.
There are so many essential developments to be monitored and scrutinised-for example, involvement in consultation about the Basic Law, especially as China has made it clear that she will wish to know the views of the people of Hong Kong; the work of the new Joint Liaison Group and its composition; Hong Kong's industrial and commercial progress; her relations with other countries and international organisations; and finally, but not least in importance, the development of education and of democratic procedures in the territory. All these matters and more will engage our active interest and attention over the years. I feel sure that noble Lords in all parts of the House will wish to ask for debates as matters evolve and develop in the territory.
The future of the territory of Hong Kong and its welfare will remain Parliament's deepest concern and it is in that spirit that we support this Bill with hope and with optimism.
Lord Beaumont of Whitley: My Lords, I do not wish to take up your Lordships' time this afternoon on this stage of the Bill, not because it is not seen by us as of the greatest importance-because it is-but because we are happy to be able to register the fact that so much of the necessary work has been done on it and has been done satisfactorily. I really should like to congratulate the Government on the spirit in which they have undertaken all the negotiations on this matter and the openmindedness they are showing towards arrangements for the future. The progress we have made on previous stages of the Bill, as the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos, said, has allayed the fears of a large number of people in Hong Kong.
Even more important are the signs that the Government have shown and the assurances that they have given that, should anything go wrong in the future-which we hope it will not-their minds are open and they are committed to helping the people of Hong Kong as best they can. This is the most important thing, as well as the fact that we have the right and the duty in future years to discuss matters relating to Hong Kong as time goes on.
I do not imagine that even Members of the Government Front Bench think that they will be sitting in exactly the same places in 1997. We may see all sorts of changes between then and now; but everyone in this House, in all parties-not least
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