THE Chief Secretary, Sir David Ford, yesterday urged China not to drag other issues into the political debate and to demonstrate its commitment to abide by the Sino-British Joint Declaration and co-operate with Britain in the remaining four years.
Sir David's remarks came as China remained silent about when the next Sino-British Joint Liaison Group and Land Commission meetings should be held. Both are vital to the continuing growth of the economy.
Sir David said legislators' worries about the impact of the political row on the economy was ''an inevitable result, perhaps, of the criticisms we have had in recent weeks and months from Beijing and their local spokesmen''.
While the debate continued, he said: ''We must get on with the work of sorting out other problems.'' ''I think what is really worrying people now is the idea that, as part of pushing forward their views on the political matters under debate, the Chinese Government may extend action into other, unrelated areas, particularly the economy, areas which affect everyone's livelihood,'' Sir David said.
''These are matters which should have nothing to do with politics. Yet I sense the community feels that other matters are being pulled into a political debate where they do not belong and in a way that can only damage Hongkong.'' He pointed out that although the Memorandum of Understanding on the new airport had been signed, it had been a year since Britain and China negotiated the overall financing plan of the new airport.
''People justifiably wonder whether the issue is being considered on its merits, or whether it has become a bargaining chip in a different game,'' he said.
Sir David said the same had happened to the Container Terminal 9 project.