TNAG-2638-FCO40-3830-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1992 — Page 28

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

18 November 1992

114

香港立法局

一九九二年十一月十八日

114

disposed to help us if we have a particular problem of nationality. That was tried before in regard to the British nationality issue and some governments did express interest and many governments have provided nationality for many of our citizens already. The problem will get smaller as we go along, I have no doubt, down towards 1997. What I find difficult about Mr Ronald ARCULLI's amendment is that of course it refers to post-1997 and I think that the Indians, in particular, would like to have the assurance, not a verbal assurance and not an assurance given in the House of Commons or a piece of paper that means absolutely nothing when it comes to the crunch after 1997. In other words, the assurances given by Baroness YOUNG and David WADDINGTON are not worth the paper

if they are written on paper they are written on because at that time the British Government in power may just simply say, "No, we do not accept any of that and there is no obligation on us" and by that time they are out of Hong Kong, they have no responsibility and at the end of the day the Indian community and other ethnic minorities are left high and dry. I think the Indians particularly want before 1997 the assurance of a passport in their hands. That I think, Mr Deputy President, is what I have been arguing. There are many others here in the same situation. I think this Council and the committee which we have agreed to set up, and which incidentally I hope everybody who has spoken today, including Mr CHIM, will join, will help us towards coming to conclusions and recommendations and taking action as best we can to support this rather vulnerable community of ethnic minorities.

With that, Mr Deputy President, I hope that all of us can support the original motion although I had intended to ask Mr Ronald ARCULLI if he would like to join with me in my original motion, but I suppose that is asking too much. Thank you, Mr Deputy President.

SECRETARY FOR SECURITY: Mr Deputy President, I welcome this debate for two reasons. First, it has been a well informed debate. Secondly, it allows me the opportunity to acknowledge on behalf of the Government the very substantial contribution which the ethnic minorities have made to Hong Kong's economic prosperity. I am thinking particularly of organizations such as the Indian Resources Group. That contribution has been and remains out of proportion to their numbers, as Mr McGREGOR has said. We are grateful to them and have long been concerned that their future, security and place in Hong Kong is assured. We need to remind ourselves, however, that the ethnic minorities like