4.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
5 July 1989
2105
If Britain and the United States are sincere in their acclaimed wish to see democracy flourished in Hong Kong, then they must work together to provide practical incentive to enable Hong Kong people to remain here and build up their system. The talk of treating Hong Kong people as refugees only adds fuel to our brain drain problem. After all, we have all witnessed the double standards and compassion fatigue of these Western countries towards Vietnamese boat people. What guarantees are there that things will be different? No, Hong Kong people will not hang their hopes on empty promises.
Sir, Hong Kong people are doers, not dreamers. We have done what we can for the Vietnamese refugees and boat people, and we make no apologies for that. Speeches, no matter how flowery and soothing, are merely words. They are poor substitutes for action. We look for real and concrete action which tackle the problem at source, not intentions nor excuses.
Sir, I support the motion.
MR. MICHAEL CHENG (in Cantonese): Sir, recent events have filled Hong Kong people with anxiety about their future. There are two most perplexing issues at present. The first one is the granting or otherwise of the right of abode in the United Kingdom to the people of Hong Kong by the British Government. The second one is the incessant influx of Vietnamese boat people. I consulted the residents of Wong Tai Sin on these issues in mid June. They have very strong feelings about these issues. I would like to express my views on these two subjects now.
Striving for the right of abode in the United Kingdom
According to a recent market survey, the political confidence in Hong Kong has now plummeted to record low since the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of applicants for emigration overseas. A number of Members have already spoken on the right of abode issue. Owing to the time constraints, I do not intend to repeat their points of argument. I only want to reiterate my stance on this issue. In striving for the right of abode in the United Kingdom, the people of Hong Kong just want to obtain an effective insurance policy which can make them feel safe to remain and carry on with their work in Hong Kong. Their objective is not to settle in Britain. Notwithstanding Sir Geoffrey HOWE's repeated stress on the point that Britain will not grant the right of abode to the 3 million strong BTDC passport holders in Hong Kong, Britain is still legally and morally obliged to take good care of the interest of the whole population of 6 million in Hong Kong and to provide them with the right of abode in the United Kingdom or in other countries.
Vietnamese boat people
Sir, at the time when this Council debated the issue of Vietnamese boat people, the number of Vietnamese boat people and refugees stranded in Hong Kong was
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