TNAG-1858-FCO40-2633-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 39

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

5 July 1989

2073

responsibility. The report flatly refuses to restore the right of abode in the United Kingdom to Hong Kong British subjects, but proposes that in an Armageddon scenario after 1997 where it is impossible to implement the Joint Declaration, the United Kingdom Government has a "responsibility" to take the lead in mobilizing her European Community partners and other immigrant receiving countries to take in Hong Kong people.

As our sovereign state, Britain is unable to introduce a contingency plan or take concrete actions on this matter, but tries instead to pass the responsibility onto other countries. Is she not trying to be generous at other people's expense? The whole argument is totally unconvincing and illogical. If this is how the British Government is going to fulfill its "unique obligation" as referred to in the report, I am afraid that the British Government can only be described as "dishonourable"

The FAC report also mentions that some forms of safeguard will be given to certain categories of Hong Kong people on a "selective basis". The "target group" will include people who have served the Hong Kong British Government and a very limited number of other Hong Kong residents and elites.

Sir, it is due to the co-operative efforts and devotion to duty of people from all walks of life and different social strata that Hong Kong is able to achieve the international status she enjoys today. What the FAC suggests will obviously bring injustice to our community and is detrimental to Hong Kong's development during the transitional period. These recommendations give us an impression that Britain is only safeguarding her own interests at the expense of ours. How can it be said that Britain is fulfilling her "unique obligation" to Hong Kong?

Sir, as we move towards 1997, the prosperity and stability of the territory will depend on the determination of the British Government to shoulder her responsibility, as well as the confidence of the Hong Kong people in the future. However, the FAC report has failed to properly address these two most important points. I find it very disappointing that the report has not been prepared with the interests of the Hong Kong people in mind and as such its recommendations have failed to fully reflect our wishes.

Hong Kong people do not have any direct say in the Sino-British talks. Before its honourable retreat from Hong Kong, the British Government must act with determination to secure the best interests for Hong Kong, but not to worry too much about China's responses or to look after her own interests only.

I want to stress that it would be wrong for Britain to think that she has fulfilled her duty by signing the Sino-British Joint Declaration which is supposed to have taken the interests of our people into account and provided a guarantee for the future of Hong Kong. I think that at present the most pressing task is to restore the confidence of Hong Kong people in the implementation of the Joint Declaration. And the first step to take in looking after the interests of Hong Kong people is to resolve the confidence crisis as quickly as possible by providing them with an "emergency exit".--