03.02
absolute right to enter Britain: between three and nine million Commonwealth citizens, from Australia, Canada and New Zealand; over 200 million nationals of EC countries; about a million white South Africans. Almost all the people concerned are white; their right to enter Britain is unquestioned and does not lead to any public fears of being I swamped' by immigrants. Yet the fact that there are three million British people of Chinese origin in Hong Kong is used to guillotine any debate about the nature of Britain's continuing responsibility for its nationals there.
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Should this prove to be the ground on which Her Majesty's Government and Opposition have reached their present policy positions, and were Britain's churches to fail to challenge it, friends and opponents in other parts of the world would be bound to question our motives.
6:14
Nothing is to be gained by minimising the enormous practical problems which could be caused by the large scale migration of people into Britain, many of whom would be likely to settle in cities where there are already heavy pressures on housing, education, health services and other social facilities. The resident populations in such areas might feel threatened by such immigration, especially since much media and political comment has already conditioned them to think that they would be at risk. We would stress that these difficulties are not to be seen in any way as a justification for not meeting our responsibilities towards the people of Hong Kong. But it would be irresponsible not to recognise the potential need for additional social provision on a very large scale and to urge Government and Local Authorities to prepare for this. The full co-operation of the churches and other voluntary organisations also will be essential.
6:15
The people of Hong Kong are understandably worried by the vagueness of the assurances and information given by the British Government. In the absence of concrete proposals they find it difficult to be assured that Britain will not shirk her responsibilities towards Hong Kong, or to believe that Britain's commitment to the territory and to its people is firm. The only firm and unambiguous information they have received so far which reflects the intentions of the British Government is the Government's refusal to restore the rights of citizenship to Hong Kong British Passport Holders. They are not particularly reassured by the news that international negotiations are taking place when they do not know the content and the outcome of such negotiations. It is reasonable for them to expect a full and frank disclosure about any arrangements which are being made for their own future.
In the meantime there is an obligation, which British churches will welcome, to stand in solidarity with christian partners in Hong Kong, and to offer them both encouragement and assistance as they continue to demand from Britain justice and fairness for all the people of Hong Kong.
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