TNAG-1752-FCO40-2472-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1988 — Page 42

PAYAGE

HKB 0401 LEONSOLIDAT

ONSOLIDATED FUND DEBATE, 11 MARCH:

THE HONG KONG CONSTITUTION AND THE BASIC LAW :

MR EGGAR'S OPENING SPEECH

91

1. I would like to thank the hon Member for Wrexham for giving

this House the opportunity to return to the subject of Hong Kong. He will recall the debate in this House on 20 January, following

publication of the 1987 annual report on Hong Kong.

It was a very

good debate. It demonstrated that very many members on both sides of the House continue to take a well informed interest in the future

of the territory. And of course the debate also aroused a good deal

of interest in Hong Kong itself. On that occasion, members may

remember, the debate was broadcast live in Hong Kong. Many people there sat up into the early hours of the morning to hear what Westminster had to say on the subject of Hong Kong. They would, I think, be pleased to know that now we are sitting up into the early hours to discuss this subject further.

2. I think it is important to set this debate in the context of the progress we are making with the Chinese in implementing the terms of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong. The Joint

Declaration must be the starting point of any consideration of Hong Kong's future development and provides the essential framework for the development of our policy and for our contacts with the Chinese over Hong Kong. I make no apologies for reminding the House what a

remarkable document the Joint Declaration is. It represents a unique and historic achievement on the part of the British and Chinese Governments. It represents the determination of both sides to resolve a problem deeply routed in history by producing an agreement, ratified by both governments, and by this Parliament, which is lodged at the UN in New York and is internationally binding. It is an agreement which gives the people of Hong Kong a realistic hope, and I would venture to say, the expectation, of continuing stability and prosperity after 1997.

3. We are working now to realise that goal. In working towards