TNAG-2013-FCO40-2865A-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1991-1990 — Page 118

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

1 March 1990

香港立法局————————一九九0年三月一日

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cannot speak for my constituency although I believe that my views will be supported by many businessmen. In short, Sir, I speak from conscience.

I do not oppose Mr. LEE's motion. Indeed I will vote in favour of it. I do not think however that it has gone far enough. It does not, in my view, suggest that this Council recognizes that the political deal done between the British and Chinese Governments, without the participation of the people of Hong Kong, does not reflect the wishes of the majority of the people. Nor does it hold our hope for further substantive change in the political model before and after 1997. It does not indicate the commitment of this Council to its own hotly debated and carefully structured compromise political model, the so-called OMELCO consensus. Mr. LEE's motion is therefore too conciliatory to both the British and Chinese Governments which have imposed their agreed political model on Hong Kong, in disregard of the clearly expressed wishes of the Hong Kong people.

I blame the British Government more than the Chinese Government for this state of affairs. Britain has enjoyed full democratic freedom in the election of its government for most of this century. The British people have fought wars to retain democratic freedom not only for themselves but in defence of democracy and liberty in many other lands. I myself answered the call to arms in 1940 at the age of 16 to take part in one war against a tyranny which threatened democratic freedom across the world. At least, I believe, one other Member of this Council did the same thing.

Mrs. THATCHER has shown herself a fierce and determined supporter of democratic freedoms and human rights. Her Government has been advised repeatedly by Dame Lydia DUNN, the Honourable Allen LEE, by Members of this Council, by the Council as a whole and by many other organizations in Hong Kong that the people of Hong Kong wish to have democracy and democratic government, if not immediately, then within a reasonable time frame.

Douglas HURD and Francis MAUDE have repeatedly acknowledged the desire of the Hong Kong people for a faster rate of democratic development and both have said that the British Government would do all it could to satisfy that wish. Both officials however entered the latter stage of negotiations with China with some perception, possibly originating in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, that Hong Kong people were ready to concede a slower pace of democratic reform. Where on earth did the British Government get this idea? Certainly not in Hong Kong unless public opinion here is to be judged from statements made by those who speak for China directly or indirectly, including those who jumped for joy at the so-called "concessions" made by China in the final days of negotiation with the British authorities.