I had to explain that I did not believe that this
House would support an indefinite and open-ended
commitment of that kind. It would test our capacity in
all kinds of areas housing, employment, transport,
-
It
inner-city services on an unprecedented scale.
would be a cruel deception to offer an insurance policy
on which we could not deliver. The Select Committee on
Foreign Affairs reached a similar conclusion.
I was, however, able to confirm that we were looking
urgently at a scheme which would make some provision for
people in both the private and public sectors on the
basis not simply of connections with Britain but also the
value of service to Hong Kong. The Government intend to
make an announcement to the House before too long.
At the European Council in Madrid we alerted our
Community partners to Hong Kong's problems. From
Hong Kong I was in direct touch with the six other
countries which will attend next week's Economic Summit
in Paris. We shall raise the issue there. We shall
continue to mobilise the support of the international
community. If the worst comes to the worst we shall not
close our doors. We hope others will be ready to act in
the same way.
The Joint Declaration agreed with China in 1984
remains in the words of Hong Kong's Executive and
Legislative Councillors "a good agreement". Since 1985
we have been working to ensure that the provision of the Joint Declaration are fully implemented.
In
There are a number of ways in which Hong Kong's traditions of freedom can be further protected.
particular, in determining the pace of democratisation,
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