5 July 1989
·九八九年七月五日
91
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
香港立法局
China will be strong and its people will be free. The disappointment, the anguish and the common aspiration to have freedom for the Chinese people has been well expressed by the people of Hong Kong who had marched in the streets in large numbers, sometimes numbering half a million and well over, to show that we are united in our stand.
Sir, I thought after all the tragedy that we have witnessed, the best positive result is that Hong Kong is now united, that we are now prepared to participate in political reform at a faster pace, that we are prepared to give up our own differences in our points of view, whether it be on the political system or initially on the passport issue, and stand on one line. I am glad to see, Sir, that you are leading that line and speaking to Britain.
My reception in London was successful but I must say it was due to the fact that Dame Lydia and Mr. Allen LEE had laid a very good foundation stating our case and we were getting through to the British people. I was therefore disappointed when I read the FAC report yesterday after my return. I must say that I agree basically with their observation in respect to the Joint Declaration. It is fundamentally a well written document, and now we must look for its full implementation overseen by Britain and, in particular, what China will do in respect of its realization. We therefore ask that Britain must oversee the drafting of the Basic Law in terms of or in the capacity as a signatory to the Joint Declaration. Those of us who may still have the opportunity to participate in it must put our weight behind the voice of Hong Kong people and make sure that China has to face the choice of listening to us or going their own way and accept the consequences if our confidence should be further affected adversely if it should happen to be an unwise decision.
I agree that we must have a Bill of Rights here in Hong Kong. I believe that the marches that we have seen in Hong Kong are basically aiming at freedom rather than one-man-one-vote, although that is a vital issue too.
In respect of the FAC's recommendation on democratic movement, I have some reservations. The Joint Declaration envisaged a pretty right-wing kind of conservative economic policy in which the details, as we see it, guarantee that this place will have a free marketeering environment. And, of course, one very hotly debated issue is whether we should have low taxation and that, I think, is an essential element. I hope in structuring our democratic system we must try and create an environment that is conducive to the right-wing and free marketeering economy that has made Hong Kong such a success. The particular disappointment is, of course, on the passport issue. My colleagues have very eloquently expressed their views and I cannot do more but show and state my agreement. I think there is one point that need to be made to the British
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