UNCLASSIFIED
075024
MDHIAN 2037
HONG KONG PEOPLE MUST BE ALLOWED TO DECIDE ON THEIR OWN SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT BEFORE 1997 AS WELL AS AFTER 1997''.
SIR, THERE IS, I BELIEVE, GENERAL AGREEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY SHOULD BE SPEEDED UP IN THE RUN UP TO 1997. WE ACCEPT THAT VIEW, AND WILL NOW RE-EXAMINE THE DECISIONS CONTAINED IN THE 1988 WHITE PAPER CONCERNING THE COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1991. IN SO DOING WE WILL BE CONSIDERING NOT ONLY THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS TO BE DIRECTLY ELECTED AT THAT TIME BUT ALSO THE POSITION OF OFFICIALS, AND THE NUMBERS OF APPOINTED MEMBERS AND THOSE ELECTED THROUGH FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES.
IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT ANY PROPOSALS FOR A FASTER PACE OF DEMOCRACY HAVE THE FULL SUPPORT OF THIS COMMUNITY. I AM SURE THAT MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL WILL TAKE THE LEAD IN BUILDING ON THE CONSENSUS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THIS CHAMBER WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE GOVERNMENT WITH A CLEAR VIEW FROM THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON WHICH
TO BASE IT DECISIONS.
RECENT EVENTS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED CONCERNS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OVER
THEIR RIGHTS AND FREEDOM. UNDERSTANDABLY SO. THE FAC REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT INTRODUCE A BILL OF RIGHTS
AS SOON AS THE WORK ON THE REVIEW OF THE EXISTING LAWS MAKES IT PRACTICABLE. THAT IT OUR INTENTION. WE WILL BE INTRODUCING A BILL OF RIGHTS IN A APPROPRIATE FORM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AS YOU SIR HAVE INDICATED IN YOUR RECENT STATEMENT TO THIS COUNCIL YOU WILL BE SAYING MORE ABOUT THIS IN YOUR OCTOBER SPEECH.
I TURN NOW TO THE QUESTION OF NATIONALITY ON WHICH HONOURABLE MEMBERS
HAVE TODAY EXPRESSED THEMSELVES WITH GREAT CLARITY AND FORCE. THE POSITION OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS WELL KNOWN. WE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT GRANT THE RIGHT OF ABODE TO ALL HONG KONG BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS. THIS WOULD DO MUCH TO
REASSURE OUR PEOPLE THAT THEY SHOULD REMAIN HERE AND CONTINUE TO WORK FOR A PROSPEROUS AND STABLE HONG KONG. AS YOU INDICATED, SIR, IN GIVING EVIDENCE TO THE FAC, SUCH A MOVE WOULD BE OF IMMENSE BENEFIT IN REASSURING THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. I AM NOT GOING TO REHEARSE THE ARGUMENTS FOR OUR POSITION. THEY ARE COMPELLING ENOUGH AND HONOURABLE MEMBERS KNOW THEM WELL. I WOULD HOWEVER LIKE TO SPEND A FEW MOMENTS EXAMINING THE CASE PUT FORWARD BY THE FOREIGN
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE FOR NOT GRANTING THE RIGHT OF ABODE TO HONG KONG CITIZENS.
IN A NUTSHELL IT IS THAT THE UNITED KINGDOM PARLIAMENT WOULD NOT
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