TNAG-2482-FCO40-3613-Correspondence-from-MPs-regarding-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 24

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Oral Answers

25 NOVEMBER 1992

d he accept in his position within the Foreign Office that when President Lucas Mangope of Bophuthatswana comes to this country-a man who has sought to establish meaningful democracy in his part of southern Africa-he should have the opportunity, like members of the ANC and other groups in South Africa, of meeting members of the United Kingdom Government?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd: The hon. Gentleman will be able to make his request in the usual way.

Sir David Steel: Is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office aware of the important statement made the other day in Angola by the director-general of elections himself that in his view there were not enough international observers to make sure that irregularitics did not take place? That is a moral that the Government should pass on to other African countries, notably Kenya, where elections are pending.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd: The right hon. Gentleman refers to Kenya. Of course there are a large number of countries where the moral should be considered further. As he will know, the election on 29 December will be observed by monitors and observers from the European Community, from the Commonwealth, and from the United States of America.

Mr. Grocott: Will the Minister take the opportunity in the House today to acknowledge the verdict of all the observers to the Angolan elections that those elections were free and fair? Will he pay tribute to the Angolan people for conducting those elections after so many years of tragic violence? Will he now take steps, through the international community, to ensure that UNITA accepts the clection results and the fact that it must obey the terms of the peace accord? In particular, will he ensure that UNITA attends the newly-elected Parliament and that its deputies are there to play a full part in the new Angola?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd: As I have said. UNITA has accepted the elections in the form that I have indicated. We hope that the peace process will continue. but I agree with the hon. Gentleman about the elections, We fully support the determination of the United Nations special representative in Angola that both the legislative and presidential elections were generally free and fair.

Hong Kong

11. Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will next be visiting Hong Kong to discuss relations with China,

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Alistair Goodlad): My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans at present to visit Hong Kong. However, my right hon. Friend was able to discuss a wide range of Hong Kong issues with the Governor during his recent visit to London.

Mr. Campbell-Savours: Why unnecessarily antagonise the Chinese by adopting such a beligerent tone during the course of negotiations with China? Would not a little bit of subtle diplomacy in the historic tradition of this great soustry be fai ilure beneficial to British and Hiong Kong interests?

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Mr. Goodlad: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told Vice Premier Zhu Rongji in London last week, the Government fully support the Governor's proposals. We consider that they reflect the wishes of the Hong Kong people and are consistent with the joint declaration of 1984 and the basic law. The Governor's aim is to make the Hong Kong Administration more effective and accountable and the electoral system as fair, open and broadly based as possible. He is proposing a modest extension of democracy, consistent with the agreements that we have reached with China. Our policy in dealing with China over Hong Kong has remained the same. We want co-operation and a smooth transition in 1997. We remain ready to discuss the Governor's proposals and it will then be for the Legislative Council in Hong Kong to take a decision.

Mr. Sims: Can my right hon. Friend confirm that the Governor's proposals have been warmly endorsed by the Legislative Council and that opinion polls show that they are fully supported by the people of Hong Kong? If the Government and the People's Republic of China believe that those proposals are in any way incompatible with the joint declaration and the basic law, could they be invited to point out where those incompatibilities occur?

Mr. Goodlad: My hon. Friend is extremely knowledge- able about Hong Kong and what he says is absolutely right. It is now time for calm discussion.

Mr. Rogers: Putting aside the issues of the Governor's style and timing, will the Minister assure the House that the Government will stand firm and support him against the substantial pressures that are being put on him? Does he accept that there is much support within the House for the proposals which, as the Minister said, extend the democratic process in Hong Kong?

Mr. Goodlad: I am extremely grateful to the hon. Gentleman for what he has said: Of course, the Governor has the full support of the British Government and of hon. Members on both sides of the House.

Mr. David Howell: Given that the Beijing Government are showing the minimum possible understanding of what the Governor of Hong Kong is trying to achieve through his reforms, will my right hon. Friend encourage the Governor to explain to the Beijing Government that the moderate democratic reforms proposed are not just consistent—the word that my right hon. Friend used- with the basic law but necessary to make Hong Kong operate now and, after 1997, as a special administrative region as part of two systems within one country? Without those reforms, the success of Hong Kong will be jeopardised, to the great detriment of the world and the Peoples Republic of China.

Mr. Goodlad: My right hon. Friend is right. It is in the interests of Britain, China and the people of Hong Kong that Hong Kong remains successful until 1997 and beyond. The best way to achieve that is through co-operation based on the joint declaration, which is what we are seeking to achieve in the proposals.

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