1989 — Page 31

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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this incident, learn by rule of law, law of democracy and should understand that if any authority who takes measures to fool the public will lead to self-entitled to the issue of, Hong Kong British passports, I agree in these trouble. As regards the right to enter Britain, of Hong Kong citizens holding or destruction. In view of this incident, I agree that drafting of the Basic Law times, this would add confidence to our people. I can see the difficulties of various principle ets. should be reconsidered. Therefore, I now support the allowing a potential of over 3m people from Hong Kong to take up residence in

motion.

the United Kingdom. I sincerely hope that by 1997 there will be no need in MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):---Mr. Chairman, in view of all that has

practice for this worry, despite the horrific events of the present. But if there is a happened in China, we have no option but to adjourn the discussion on that is to say, if too many came to the U.K., they could be asked to go (on a need, surely it could be worked out as a combined Commonwealth operation.

Basic Law and of course I support the Motion so to do. I was going to speak a quota system) instead, to Australia, New Zealand, and even the sub-continent

Chapter 4, the Political Structure, and in particular the articles on the Judicial Organ under Section 4 and other Articles connected therewith. One of points was I am not satisfied with the provisions as to the right of dismissal of judge, particularly if he were to give a decision which the SAR Government as a whole did not particularly like.

However, as the Reform Club has said in its own report on the Second Draft of the Basic Law, released only a few days before the horrified happenings in Beijing, the Basic Law as a document is basically well drawn up. The trouble is the fear of the Hong Kong people as to the implementation of it by the central government in Beijing. How true this prophecy has become!

I think all of us are horrified and extremely angry about the blood massacres which have happened in Beijing, and indeed in other cities as well in China. Although the Governor in its recent address voiced his opinion about being horrified, I did not hear him say that he himself was either extremely angry or even angry, he just said about many of the citizens of Hong Kong having expressed sentiments of anger. Mrs. THATCHER, the British Prime Minister, also in her statement did not even mention the word 'angry'. In my opinion, it is a vital point to take, i.e. not only are we horrified, but we are extremely angry at the massacre, the bloody massacre, of thousands of peaceful citizens, including peacefully demonstrating students, that we have been witnessing (and are still witnessing) in China.

Again, the first of the questions that put down to be asked today (and remember, because of the notice that has to be given, it was to have been asked before the Chinese Government took military action in Beijing), was to the effect whether this Council would stand up and be counted amongst the people who supported Beijing's students' movement for democracy. It was ruled out of order as not being in accordance with Standing Orders. Nevertheless, now I again say, Mr. Chairman, 'Do we as a Council stand up and be counted as being horrified and extremely angry with the bloody massacres that have been happening and are still happening in China? Do we speak with one voice, it condemning in the strongest possible terms these persons, indeed these old men who are apparently in control of the Government of China, and who look to be prepared to go to no limits to retain their power. Even indeed to commit acts which are the acts of savages, not of the Chinese people who have had a civilization for so many thousands of years, that even the Romans and the Greeks were uncivilized when that civilization first started.

of India.

However, getting back to the immediate, these last few days have seen acts which even barbarians would shudder to commit. It will take a very, very long time for any vestige of confidence to return, at least in the present men who control the Government in China. Therefore, I can only say this debate on the Basic Law must be adjourned sine die.

MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English): The events in China in the past fortnight, and the massacre in Beijing of thousands of innocent men, women, and children have shaken like a horrifying earthquake the very foundations of colonial Hong Kong and the emotions of her 6 million people.

The unarmed citizens of Beijing who for the past four decades grew up in the belief that the People's Liberation Army loved the people and would never harm them, woke up on the morning of 5 June 1989 to find that thousands of residents had been slaughtered by soldiers armed with automatic weapons, supported by armoured cars, tanks, and helicopters. The entire world has been witness to this carnage through television, radio, and press reports.

mostly the well-to-do, the professional groups, and the upper middle-class, who In Hong Kong, five years ago when the Joint Declaration was signed, it was had reservations about the 'One Country-Two Systems' and who had gone round the world in search of a second passport. Today, the vast majority of the Hong Kong population no longer believe in the Joint Declaration. The stark brutality of what they saw on television of the events in Beijing has sadly convinced them that the Joint Declaration alone cannot protect their freedoms and their Hong Kong lifestyle under a hard-line Chinese Communist Party and autocratic Central Government.

countries in the years ahead. The doors of the United Kingdom were slammed I am afraid we shall see more Hong Kong people seeking refuge in other shut to Hong Kong people a long time ago; whether they will remain shut forever, and to what extent. Britain will relent and give them the right of abode in one form of another, only time can tell. Hong Kong British passport-holders should be given the same right of abode to Britain as the 400 million EEC passport holders.

I would urge that at least 1/3rd of the Legislative Council seats—and not just 10—be directly elected in 1991.