TNAG-2769-FCO40-3986-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1994 — Page 77

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is the rule of law and the freedoms of a plural

society. A decantly elected legislature is a part JE that fabric. If there is no level playing field for the legislature, what chance a level playing field elsewhere - in business, for example? The promise that Hong Kong people will run Hong Kong after 1997, with a substantial degree of autonomy hardly squares with furious efforts to install an electoral system which would give Peking tight control. And for what purpose to maintain the rule of law, or to circumvent it if necessary?

16.

We hear one other argument against behaving decently. It tends to come from those who used to urge Britain to stand taller for democracy, until, that is, China started to shout the odds. What matters, we are told, is freedom not democracy - freedom of speech, freedom of economic choice, freedom under the law.

Standing up for fair elections may risk these freedoms.

17. But what sort of freedom would Hong Kong have if

its citizens didn't have the freedom to make a real

choice in the polling booth? What fair economic choice is there when there is no fearless legislative opponent of corruption? Can we really expect freedom of speech and of the pïess lu pusvive long if there is no freedom

to express political views in a fairly elected legislature? It is not the argument for democracy, which these critics regard as a step too far, but the determination to stand up for Hong Kong.

18.

We will continue to try to persuade the Chinese to return to the máyuliatiny table. II we fall, we shall have to work out with the people of Hong Kong, through the Legislative Council, the best arrangements for securing limited democracy.

We won't be able to go