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Hong Kong
15 MARCH 1993
Hong Kong
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Mr. Hurd: I do not think that one has to be Chancellor of the Exchequer to derive a certain amount of inspiration from a visit to Hong Kong. It is a remarkably successful economy, precisely because of that combination of British administration and Chinese entrepreneurship. British administration will be replaced in 1997, but it is most important that the other quality-Chinese entrepreneur- ship-should continue under free institutions.
I can confirm the hon. Gentleman's first point. Opportunities for trade with China are substantial and have been continuing. I hope that that will continue to be the case.
Mr. Bowen Wells (Hertford and Stortford): Does my right hon. Friend believe that the current Chinese attitude suggests a certain amount of bad faith on the part of the Chinese? As my right hon. Friend said, they agreed to the principle of two systems, one country, and the second system-democracy-will not be properly developed even under the Governor's proposals.
Mr. Hurd: I do not want to trade accusations of bad faith because co-operation with China between now and 1997 is very much in the interests of the people of Hong Kong, who are our main responsibility and our main interest in this matter. I do not want to engage in that kind of recrimination. It is crucial that the principle, which is a Chinese principle, should be respected. The Governor's proposals are very much in line with that principle and with the joint declaration and are compatible with the Basic Law and with the understandings reached before the last legislative elections.
Mr. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North): Does the Foreign Secretary accept that lack of democracy in Hong Kong has always been a problem, and that that has not been put right by the Basic Law or by any other accords with the People's Republic of China? Will he now tell us what guarantees he can offer of freedom of speech in Hong Kong and of political asylum for those who have been critical of the People's Republic of China and who may be subject to prison sentences as and when China takes over?
Mr. Hurd: Many of these matters are discussed in the Joint Liaison Group with the Chinese-for example, the question of the convention on human rights. The hon. Gentleman was present when we discussed the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990, which the House agreed and whose provisions have worked well.
Mr. James Couchman (Gillingham): As my right hon. Friend the Member for Guildford (Mr. Howell) said, these are days of change in Beijing. The Vice-President of China died over the weekend, and there are likely to be changes of personnel during the present congress in the People's Republic of China. Will my right hon. Friend undertake, in conjunction with the Governor, not to allow the legislative process for putting the Governor's proposals into law to progress too far before those changes become apparent so that any discussions with the People's Republic take place after such changes have occurred?
Mr. Hurd: It would be a little rash to base policy on possible changes in Peking in the next few weeks and months. It is hard to put that on any sure foundation. The Legislative Council in Hong Kong needs to take decisions on the legislation fairly soon—before the end of July, when the Council rises for its recess. That allows plenty of time
both for discussion in the Legislative Council and for discussion with the Chinese-if, as I hope, they are ready to undertake such discussion.
Mr. Michael Jopling (Westmorland and Lonsdale): Will the Foreign Secretary point out to the Chinese Government in a delicate way that the increased expectations for democracy in Hong Kong have been in part caused by the Chinese Government's own statements? Does my right hon. Friend recall that, after the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs visited Peking in 1989, it reported that the Chinese Government had said that they had no objection to faster progress towards democracy and that the introduction of representative government was a matter for Hong Kong. In its report, written after the Tiananmen square incident, the Committee reported unanimously to the House that we believed that full democracy must be introduced before 1997. That was on the basis of advice that we were given by the Chinese Government in Peking. It would be helpful if my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary would remind them of that.
Mr. Hurd: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend; and I recall that report. It is in the interests of China, and is possible for China without sacrificing anything that it regards as essential, to have somewhat more confidence in the process of democracy in Hong Kong. The Chinese are committed to that in the Basic Law, as my right hon. Friend pointed out. What is needed is a little more confidence in that commitment.
Mr. Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney): Is there not already a very large, enthusiastic and well-educated younger generation in Hong Kong who have every right to take part in the full democratic processes and democratic institutions of their society? Is the Foreign Secretary aware that Mr. Patten's proposals are sensible, cautious and, in my view, the minimum required for democracy? Therefore, they deserve support and not sniping, especially sniping from the powerful business interests in Hong Kong itself. Will the right hon. Gentleman make it clear to those interests that he and the House support the process of democracy that has been proposed?
Mr. Hurd: We certainly do that, and almost the whole House has given its support since the proposals were published. Certainly the right hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) has given that support. There is now a political city alongside a commercial city in Hong Kong. Both are now part of the reality. That is one reason why, in Hong Kong itself, the Governor's proposals have continued, despite sniping from inside and outside the colony, to receive very strong support.
Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North): Would it not have been far more difficult for the Chinese to adopt their present attitude if the reforms in Hong Kong had been implemented much earlier, as advocated by my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Kaufman)? Is it not ironic that the obstruction is coming from a Government who have never been genuinely elected by anyone and who, in 1989, were responsible for massacres of students whose only demand was for elementary democratic reform in China itself?
Mr. Hurd: The Government and the House have expressed themselves in respect of what happened in
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