14-JUL-1993
14:41
Gallagher
TRANSCRIPT MR ALASTAIR GOODLAD
0491 579838
P.26
SELECT COMMITTEE
14 JULY 93
26
wanted to come to Britain but they wanted a way out of Hong Kong.
What would be the attitude as we get nearer 1997 of the British
government if Beijing does not move, does not seem to be accepting
the right of people in Hong Kong to dissent, it seems to be
perhaps prepared to take action against those who did dissent
against what happened in Tiananmen Square. If those people want to
leave Hong Kong and come to the UK, or leave with the aid of the
British government, what would be our attitude because we do have
some responsibility for those we have governed over the last 10
years?
MR GOODLAD
On the question of dissension in general, as I say the Joint
Declaration and the Basic Law do make provision for the autonomy
of Hong Kong and its way of life and its liberties which
have persisted for 50 years and the Chinese government have
committed themselves to uphold that, and we are currently, as I
said earlier, engaged in filling in the detail of the institutions
which are going to be the framework for that. And I think
everything that you have just said underlines the importance of
our concluding those arrangements in a way that reflects the
intentions of the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law and in a way
that ensures that they survive beyond 1997.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.