The 'July 1 Declaration' by Martin Lee Chu-ming, Democratic Party chairman, from the balcony of the Legislative Council building.
As we approach the end of the 20th century, the world community can take pride that more people in more countries are more free than ever before. But as the world is marching towards democracy, human rights and the rule of law, Hong Kong is losing some of the very freedoms which have made our society so successful.
Today, the whole world is witnessing the return of Hong Kong to our country, China. This is a glorious day for all Chinese people everywhere. For we are leaving behind the legacy of more than 150 years of British colonial rule and beginning a new era for Hong Kong as part of China.
The members of my party, the Democratic Party, were among the first to support China's resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong. We therefore fully uphold the 1984 Joint Declaration and its guarantees of 'one country, two systems' and 'Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy'. In the spirit of mutual understanding and co-operation, we intend to work with China to ensure the success of Hong Kong and China.
But the Joint Declaration promises that we will have an elected legislature and that our freedoms will continue under the rule of law. In supporting the Joint Declaration, we insist that all the promises made in 1984 be honoured, and in full. So we are here today to voice the determination of the people of Hong Kong who elected us in 1995 for a four-year term to keep our democratic institutions, rule of law and freedoms.
Hong Kong and China have much to offer each other. We want to work together to make 'one country, two systems' a reality. But Hong Kong and China must advance together - not step back together.
We are Chinese. We are proud to be Chinese and that Hong Kong is no longer ruled by Britain. But we ask ourselves this question: 'Why must we pay such a high price to become Chinese again?' Why should we not be able to form associations or to demonstrate as freely as before? Why should we lose the most important safeguards of our Bill of Rights? Why should we lose the modest amount of democracy we fought so hard for and won from the British Government? Since 1990, Hong Kong people have been able to participate in democratic elections. Democracy has taken root and flourished here in Hong Kong. Over one million people elected the members of our legislature, which is disbanded today. We ask our Chinese rulers to give Hong Kong more democracy, not less, now that we are reunited with our motherland. 'One country, two systems' is a brave experiment. It requires full understanding on the part of our Chinese leaders and mutual trust, which has yet to be established.