HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
香港立法局 一九八九年七月五日
5 July 1989
92
Parliament and Members of Parliament and that is: we are not talking merely about 1997 and what kind of responsibility China may have after 1997. We are talking about now: how do we stand where we are and be given a shield to fight the battle exactly in our own home ground. I do not think there is any doubt whatsoever even in the mind of the British Members of Parliament that we are suffering from a confidence crisis. But what is the cure? I am afraid that having examined all the alternatives and in spite of the fact that we had touched upon four subjects before, the most realistic remedy or guarantee that could be given to us is like in the years past when the Chinese had escaped from communism or socialism a chance to walk away. Not that we want to. Judging by the support we are getting from the local expatriate community and the "hongs", they are totally convinced that we do not want to leave, that people in Hong Kong enjoy their own lifestyles here and that unless something catastrophic happens there is no way we can be persuaded to leave. Then why not let us have the shield now so that we can carry on with all our economic activities, our lifestyles, be with our families without any disruption and without the unnecessary waste of resources and precious time in one's life. So I think it must be made clear to the British Parliament that unless we can make the maximum use and the most fruitful employment of our time in the next eight years, the chance of the Joint Declaration working will be greatly reduced, and unless in these eight years we stand exactly where we are so that business carries on as usual in Hong Kong. I image that with a British passport the people will even work harder for two reasons: nowhere else in the world is there likely to have such good returns for one's effort than in Hong Kong; and secondly, nobody is in a hurry to leave. So I hope that message will go through.
I am very pleased to see that OMELCO has actually issued a seven-point statement setting out our strategy for the near future. I think my colleagues have devoted much of their time on the course. I would like the British to know we are not giving up here, we are not giving up Hong Kong. Do they dare to give us up!
Sir, I support the motion.
CHIEF SECRETARY: Sir, the long awaited Foreign Affairs Committee gives us substantial comfort on the Vietnamese boat people issue and on human rights. It has some stimulating suggestions on the development of democracy but is very disappointing, to say the least, on the nationality issue.
I will touch briefly, Sir, on each of these issues.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.