TNAG-1858-FCO40-2633-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 67

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

5 July 1989

2101

and acceptability. In those four or five years of his term of office, the Chief Executive of the Special Administration Region could have become another LI Peng! By that time, we might well be crushed or shot to death by tanks or cannons before we can escape by the speediest sonic aircraft. May I reiterate that the Chief Executive should be returned by a general election in 1997. Formerly people said that sufficient provisions have been made in the Basic Law for the protection of human rights. But just consider how the pro-democracy movement supporters in Beijing are still subjected to the same torture of "jet planes" as used during the cultural revolution! To enact a Bill of Rights in Hong Kong is thus a matter that brooks no delay.

To conclude, though recommendations in the FAC's report are acceptable, they are proposed at the expense of third parties. Action that is within the ability of Britain fulfilling her constitutional and moral obligations of granting to all people of Hong Kong the right of abode has been declined. The report is but a magic mirror, revealing the hypocrisy of the British Government. Instead of restoring the confidence of Hong Kong people, it arouses an anti-British sentiment. Is this beneficial to the implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration? The FAC's report is divisive and tries to absorb the elite of Hong Kong through the granting of the right of abode. The consequence will be that of the British robbing Hong Kong of its talents and Hong Kong people ruling an empty Hong Kong.

Sir, with these remarks, I support the motion.

MRS. FONG: Sir, the time for shouting slogans is over. We must control our emotions, cast off our feelings of despair and see what we can do to help ourselves.

In the final analysis, the majority of the Hong Kong people are going to stay in Hong Kong. Those who wish to leave will leave. If they have not left this year, they will leave next year or the year after. Those who would remain are the majority of us who either have no means to leave or who do not wish to leave. There will also be people who gain citizenships in other countries and decide to return.

The responsibility of this Government is to those who have Hong Kong as their home.

In this climate of shattered confidence, we must focus on the principal issues that will make or break our homeland's future.

It is Hong Kong's business acumen and the strength of its economy that underpin its value to China. Accordingly, the maintenance of all of the necessary infrastructure is vital. This includes the maintenance and construction of the things you can touch and see (like roads, tunnels, power, water, the airport, port facilities and so on). However, this is not all. It also involves the enhancement of all levels of our education system and facilities. This is vital to realistically facing up to the brain drain.