TNAG-1750-FCO40-2470-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1988 — Page 80

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was

was

supposed

to

h ad

an

nothing

Office which

to be Survey

independent body. McNair H.K. Ltd. The objectionable question was drafted by AGB which

also

But the relevant supposed

be independent.

word from the summary of question was copied almost word for the Green Paper which was the work of the Hong Kong Government;

to do and it contained so much trivia which

with central government that it prompted many to believe that it was In the result, experts have calculated to confuse the public. condemned with one voice that part of the Report which touched whether direct elections should on the all-important issue of be introduced in 1988. And yet the Hong Kong Government has relying on it not only been defending it in public but is also to justify its view that the opinion of the Hong Kong people were split as to whether direct elections in 1988, thus sparing itself the utter embarrassment of having

to confront the Chinese

issue.

Government on an

should be introduced

extremely sensitive In the circumstances, could the people of Hong Kong be

а be en

concerted

effort

blamed if they believe that there has on the part of both the Chinese and the Hong Kong Governments the very to concoct a false "public opinion" in order to stifle legitimate wishes and aspirations of the people of Hong Kong to have direct elections introduced in 1988?

sense of justice

your Prime Minister; we appeal to and fair play over the manner in which the

the true opinion of the be en manipulated by the people of Hong Kong on this issue has Hong

Government, and we urge you to right this blatant wrong for the people of Hong Kong.

Kong

What is to be done?

As

a

of result

decisions on the part

these

unpopular

acts

and

wrong of the Hong Kong Government, more and

more people have decided to leave Hong Kong.

Chinese

But the British Administration Government have

in Hong

Kong

and

the

no solution to the ever growing

to play it down

emigration problem, except to try

who people not all But if

repeatedly

that the

course, some of them

foreign

passports.

by saying Of go away

will come back. do come back after acquiring

should anything

go wrong in the leave

and again,

this time

future, they would most certainly

for good since for the mo st part they have already acquired foreign nationality.

In these circumstances,

of

to

we are extremely concerned that unless something drastic is done immediately, the biggest soon be dissipated asset of Hong Kong, namely, its people, will by this

We believe that both ever flowing tide of emigration.

should adhere the British and the Chinese Governments

strictly to the letter and spirit of the Joint Declaration, by making it

democratic possible

system

evolve between now and 1997 So that an effective and responsive government will be in place before 1997 to ensure that the SAR of degree Government can, and will, actually exercise that high autonomy

promised

Join t Declaration. True democracy will give the future SAR government a mandate from the people of Hong Kong. On ly

then will Hong Kong's future leaders find

for

a

in the

government

I ha