Page 90 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

SUPPLEMENT B

Uniting Together for a Future with Love

The following statement on the right of abode issue for mainland Chinese children was published in Ming Pao
newspaper in Hong Kong on June 23, 1999. The statement was drafted by the Christian Mission and Social
Concern Department of the Hong Kong Christian Council. It was endorsed by 23 Christian organizations and
over 400 individual Christians as a message to the people and the Governments of Hong Kong and mainland
China.

We are a group of Christians closely monitoring the issue of the way in which the SAR Government handles the
right of abode in Hong Kong for the children from mainland China with parents from Hong Kong. We feel
deep regret about both the way, as well as the attitude, in which the HKSAR Government has handled this
issue. This incident has aroused sentiments of rejection from the Hong Kong people, has created the
polarization among our social communities, and had laid seeds for future social problems. Therefore we feel that
we have to issue a statement urging the people in Hong Kong to rekindle a spirit of compassion and tolerance,
to emphasize the value of familial relationship, to unite together, and to share our responsibilities as well as our
resources. We can work for a better tomorrow if we allow love to be part of our social value.

The Government should lead us towards a united, not divisive, society.
The way in which the HKSAR handles this issue of Right of Abode encourages the sinful nature of human
beings. The HKSAR ignores the very basic human right of family union between these children and their
parent. The HKSAR also fails to formulate a set of workable application procedures to allow qualified applicants
to come to Hong Kong in an orderly manner. Instead, the HKSAR created the myth that 1.67 million people
will flood into Hong Kong. This has triggered the selfishness in human nature. Such negativity becomes a
divisive factor to stimulate conflicts among our communities and the rejection of these children by our people
in Hong Kong.

The resolution to ask the National People's Congress for interpretation of the Basic Law is contrary to the spirit
of a high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong.

The HKSAR strongly insisted to ask the Standing Committee of the People's Congress for interpretation of the
Basic Law (Article 22 and 23). This act damages the independence and the dignity of the HKSAR Court of
Final Appeal. It severely limits the autonomy and authority of the Hong Kong judiciary system. We deeply
regret this action.

The people of Hong Kong should be united together and should not reject each other.

Most of the Hong Kong citizens and our parents were once aliens in Hong Kong. We have since rooted
ourselves in Hong Kong and we have been working together for the prosperity of Hong Kong. Today, we
cannot treat the new immigrant as a negative social factor based on the speculation that "1.67 million people
will flood into Hong Kong." Let us not forget that Hong Kong is a society built on tolerance and acceptance,
and that we are a society that gives people a chance to strive with hope.

With Love, we can have hope in Hong Kong society.

As a responsible government, the HKSAR should work with the people for a harmonious, tolerant and friendly
society. Today, we hope that our society can develop into a diverse economic system to embrace various types
of professionals and workers. If our society can keep its long tradition of tolerance and creativity, it will have
an even better development. If people in Hong Kong can work together with one spirit and our society can
have love, compassion and righteousness, we will certainly have a brighter future.

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