Ultimately, Mr Speaker, the key to maintaining confidence in Hong
Kong is the active co-operation of China. The Government's
conduct of discussions with the Chinese Government over Hong
Kong, including its future political development, has been
predicated on our recognition of that fact.
As regards the Chinese reaction so far to our proposals, they
have not said anything to suggest that they will fail to honour
their side of the joint declaration. Under its terms, it will
be incumbent upon the Chinese Government after 1997 to allow
Hong Kong residents with British citizenship to continue to live
and work in Hong Kong and to have free movement in and out of the
territory. My rt hon Friend the Foreign Secretary has taken
pains to explain to the Chinese our reasons for introducing these
proposals and we believe that they will in time come to accept
them as a sincere
contribution to Hong Kong's
transition to Chinese sovereignty.
successful
Mr Speaker, it is also profoundly to Britain's advantage to
secure such a transition. That is why this Bill serves the joint
interests of the British people and of the Queen's subjects in
Hong Kong. I commend it to the House.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.