§ 1. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the causes of the recent riots in Hong Kong.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. John Stonehouse)The Governor has announced that a public inquiry into these events and their background will be instituted and I do not wish to anticipate its findings. Preliminary reports indicate, however, that the disturbances developed from demonstrations against the proposed increase of three farthings in first-class ferry fares, and that, whilst the demonstrations were initially of an orderly nature, violence and looting subsequently occurred. It will be the task of the Commission to ascertain the reasons for this outcome.
§ Mr. RankinIs not my hon. Friend aware that there are other reasons, and that it is widely held in Hong Kong that these riots arose from the frustration caused because of the lack of democratic methods of expression there? Would he say what preliminary steps he is taking to give Hong Kong independence, or some other status, freely chosen by the people, as outlined in the Gracious Speech?
§ Mr. StonehouseI have announced that a Commission of Inquiry is to be set up and it would be quite wrong for me to anticipate what its findings will be. We must leave it to the Commission. If, as my hon. Friend has suggested, the causes are political, then that will be borne out in the Commission's report.
§ Mr. Fletcher-CookeIs it not quite clear that any attempt to satisfy the hon. Gentleman the Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin), who has just asked the Question, would produce a battleground in Hong Kong, between Formosa and Peking, which we are most anxious to avoid?
§ Mr. StonehouseThe original Question was related to the disturbances and I do not want to be drawn any further. I think that it is right—and the House would expect this to be so—that we should wait for the Commission's report.
§ Mr. RankinOn a point of order. Is it in order to assume that I am the person who has to be satisfied, and not the people of Hong Kong?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is not a point of order at all.