Emergency Motion on HongKong for Autumn Conference 2014

Conference notes that

1. the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 formally agreed, in accordance with the "one country, two systems" principle, that on its return to Chinese sovereignty Hong Kong would become a Special Administrative Region ensuring that it would keep its freedoms, autonomy and an undated promise of universal suffrage.

2. Article 45 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China states that "The ultimate aim is the selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures."

Conference welcomes the announcement of the Chinese government in August this year their plan for universal suffrage in Hong Kong, giving the island's citizens the right to vote for the Chief Executive of the territory starting in 2017.

However, Conference notes with concern that

1. At the end of August 2014 the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Chinese Government confirmed their position, stating that civic nomination is not compatible with the Basic Law, so it will not allow an open nomination process for the election of the Chief Executive, and that the proposed selection process will limit the range of candidates who are nominated and undermine the democratic process

2. There is a growing police presence in Hong Kong with increasing numbers of peaceful protesters being arrested and escalating civil unrest between pro-democracy and pro-establishment groups

3. Pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong are now considering whether or not to boycott the 2017 elections as they do not want to take part in a "fake democracy"

4. The reaction of the Chinese government to the Foreign Affairs Committee investigation into the political situation in Hong Kong shows a willingness for their government to explicitly exert economic pressure on the UK in order for them to get their way

Conference believes that

Civil, political and economic rights are interlinked, and are best secured in societies with democratic governance structures

1. Given the commitments the UK government has made to the citizens of Hong Kong, we have a responsibility to ensure democracy and human rights is delivered, and maintained, for the citizens of Hong Kong.

Conference call on the UK government to

1. uphold its commitments to Hong Kong as laid out in the Sino-British Joint Declaration 1984

2. commit to universal human rights, the rule of law and democracy and to maintain our interest in the continued smooth political and economic developments in the interests of the people of Hong Kong.
   
   (To be proposed by Merlene Toh Emerson, with summation by Baroness Kishwer Falkner.)

3. If you would like to have the chance to consider this important topic, please vote for this emergency motion to be debated.