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Events in China:
[LORD GLENARTHUR.]
[ LORDS ]
"Her Majesty's Government have therefore decided on the following action. All scheduled ministerial exchanges between Britain and China have been suspended. The visit of the Chinese Minister of Justice, who was due to arrive here tomorrow, has been cancelled. My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has also cancelled his forthcoming visit to China.
"The proposed visit of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales to China in November clearly cannot take place so long as those responsible for the atrocities over the past weekend remain in control of the Chinese Government. All high-level military contacts with China have been suspended. All arms sales to China have been banned. At the same time the Government are examining how we can respond to any requests for humanitarian assistance from non-governmental organisations.
"The whole House will share the Government's special concern about the implications for Hong Kong of what has been happening in Peking. The Government understand and share the grave concern felt by the people of Hong Kong. We have all been deeply impressed by the strength and restraint of their response to what has happened.
"Everything that has been accomplished in Hong Kong has been achieved in the unique context of the geography and history of the territory, and by the talent and enterprise of its people. All that underlines the extent to which the future prosperity of Hong Kong must depend upon a successful and secure partnership with the Government and people of China. That objective is enshrined in the commitments made by the British Government and the Government of China under the joint declaration. Those commitments were reaffirmed by the chargé d'affaires when he called on me yesterday. But it is self-evident that if we are to have confidence in the commitment of the Chinese Government to their obligations, there must be a stable and responsible government in Peking. The British Government will stand by its obligations under the joint declaration. The Government and the House look to the Government of the People's Republic of China to live up to that international commitment as well.
"The events in Peking must affect the prospects and procedure for implementation of the joint declaration. Consultations about the second draft of the Basic Law for Hong Kong have been suspended. It is also difficult to see how our own contacts with the Chinese Government about the future of Hong Kong can continue in present circumstances.
"Meanwhile, I can assure the House that we shall be conducting a thorough examination of the programme for advancing and consolidating effective democracy in Hong Kong. We are considering urgently what further steps can be taken to enshrine and protect Hong Kong's freedoms and way of life after 1997.
Implications for Hong Kong
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"All of us in this House are acutely conscious of the wish of the people of Hong Kong to secure some form of assurance for themselves and their families. I know that this has been one of the issues studied by the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs. Some commentators have recommended that a right of abode in this country should be given to the 34 million people in Hong Kong who hold British nationality. We share the desire of the House to do everything we can to enhance the security of the people of Hong Kong. On that basis, the Government are looking urgently and sympathetically at the scope for flexibility. But the House will appreciate the reason why we could not easily contemplate a massive new immigration commitment which could-and the possibility cannot be disregarded-more than double the ethnic minority population of the United Kingdom. Our overriding aim must be to do everything possible to secure the continuation of those conditions in Hong Kong that have led to its outstanding success over the last century. I hope the House will send a message to the people of Hong Kong, reaffirming our commitment to their secure, stable and prosperous future.
"The Chinese people are seeking from their communist leadership rights and liberties which are taken for granted in the free world. The slaughter in Peking is a tragic setback to the campaign for democracy but I hope this House will send a united message. China cannot ignore the lessons which are being learnt elsewhere in the world. Economic prosperity and personal liberty go hand in hand. People will not forever tolerate government by repression".
My Lords, that concludes the Statement.
4.24 p.m.
Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos: My Lords, we thank the noble Lord for repeating the Statement. As the Statement says, we have all been profoundly shocked by the deplorable and distressing events Tiananmen Square over the weekend. We condemn such action without reservation. It would be a mistake at this stage to attempt to make any judgment or prediction as to the consequences of recent developments in China. We and other countries must wait to see how matters develop and whether the present government or some other administration emerges from the present chaos. This seems to me to be the only practical and sensible stance at this moment.
We note the advice that the Government are giving to British nationals in China. Can the Minister say what assistance is being offered to them if that may be required? In particular, there is concern about the large number of British students in China. Perhaps the noble Lord could confirm the situation with respect to the students in the light of recent press reports about the dangers to their safety. We also note the remarks in the Statement about British journalists. I should like to pay a tribute to them for their courage in dangerous circumstances and also for the quality of their reporting.
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