§ Dr. Jeremy Bray (Motherwell, South)I wish to present two petitions from citizens of the United Kingdom and students from Hong Kong and China resident in the United Kingdom.
Many Chinese students joined in sympathetic demonstrations in Britain in support of their fellow students and friends who demonstrated so courageously in support of democracy in China in June. Like those in Peking, they were filmed, blacklisted and threatened with future punishment by the Chinese authorities. The temporary extension of their visas is welcome, but not enough.
The petition states:
Wherefore your petitioners pray that your honourable House urges the Government to extend the visas and grant political asylum to those Chinese students who fear political prosecution if they go back to China and your petitioners in duty bound will ever pray etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.
§ The second petition is for the right of abode for all Hong Kong passport holders, a matter of continuing concern in Hong Kong since the House debated it on 13 July.
§ The House must establish a fully democratic Government in Hong Kong which can seek the best available international arrangements for the people of Hong Kong before 1997.
§
The petition states:
Wherefore your petitioners pray that your honourable House urges the Government to grant the right of abode to all Hong Kong passport holders.
§ To lie upon the Table.