300
HOUSE OF COMMONS
LONDON SW1A 0AA
-2-
Rt. Hon. Douglas Hurd, CBE, MP Rt. Hon. David Waddington, QC, MP
16th February, 1990.
Secondly, the decision as to who will be selected for British citizenship and who will be left to Chinese mercy will be highly divisive and will result in very bitter feelings amongst those who are not chosen who will be reinforced in their determination to leave, further undermining confidence in the future.
If we are already displaying a lack of confidence in the joint declaration, why should the people of Hong Kong believe we will negotiate with determination to provide them with a constitution and agreement with China that will stand up to the test of time. Already the British negotiators are demonstrating a woeful lack of will and determination to negotiate robustly with the Chinese on democracy, a bill of rights, the independence of the judiciary, the election and independence of the Chief Executive, the stationing of PRC troops, etc. Why, Hong Kong will ask. The answer - because we have saved the skins of those on whom we rely and do not believe we can truly fulfil our obligations to provide a secure future for the remainder.
Thirdly, as you say in your letter, the 50,000 selected British citizens will be encouraged to stay in Hong Kong and you believe they will do so. When Chinese Sovereignty is established, their future will be blocked by the Chinese. If they are not Chinese citizens, they will not be trusted by the Chinese. Far from securing their future in Hong Kong, British citizenship will jeopardise and blight it. Their future will lie in Britain and we will greatly benefit from their presence amongst us but Hong Kong will suffer from their absence.
Fourthly, your action will not prevent many refugees from arriving here if China does misbehave. The admission of 50,000 will add force to the demands of the others that you should provide an alternative home for them too. On what grounds will you refuse?
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