TNAG-2714-FCO40-3920-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1993 — Page 69

公

香港公民

民協

CIVIC

HONGKONG CIVIC ASSOCIATION

G. P. O. BOX 920

503 YIP FUNG BUILDING

PS. FAZ pa

46

TEL: 5225584

#5260474

FAX:

2-8 D'AGUILAR STREET

HONG KONG

香港郵政信箱920號 香港德己立街2-8號 業豐大廈503室

(852) 8770451

圖文傳真:

6 July 1993

Fax: 712 703387

The Clerk of the

Foreign Affairs Select Committee

House of Commons

RECE

H&B 011/8

IN

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

20

EGISTRY 1923

A

Action Taken

c/o Hong Kong Department

London SW1A 2AH

United Kingdom

Dear Sir:

1. We present the following brief submission in regard to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee's forthcoming investigation on "relations between the United Kingdom and China in the period up to and beyond. 1997". This submission is prepared with due emphasis on Hong Kong's long-term interests in mind.

2. Between now and 1997, it is essential for the common interests of Britain, China and Hong Kong, that all parties concerned work towards a smooth and peaceful transfer of sovereignty by July 1, 1997. Every effort should be made to arrive at mutually agreed upon arrangements for the 1994-1995 elections, including the "through train" approach, which are fair, open and generally acceptable to the people of Hong Kong. This will be good for Hong Kong's continued prosperity and stability, and for post-1997 Sino-British relations.

3.

After 1997, Hong Kong will continue to play a fulcrum role as a financial and service centre for the Asia-Pacific region, and in particular for Southern China. There are tremendous trade and investment opportunities for British firms in this part of the world using Hong Kong as the gateway, which deserves to be highlighted in the Select Committee's report.

4.

Our Association believe that human rights should be promoted and democracy developed in the light of socio-economic conditions in each country. Therefore, Britain's approach on the subject of human rights in China cannot overlook China's need to feed and uplift the living standards of her 1.2 billion people, and to preserve social stability without which economic development would be impossible.

..cont'd on page 2