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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 2147 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

In Hong Kong the Chinese inherit a very vibrant economy which I am sure, being very pragmatic people, they will continue to allow to be vibrant. They also inherit a colony which has some very strong British institutions that have really benefited the people there, especially since World War II. The colony in World War II, in the words of Winston Churchill, put up a valiant fight against a superior Japanese aggressor, unlike what happened in the disastrous British campaign in Malaya at about the same time. After World War II the colony, with its influx of Chinese escaping communist repression at various stages on the mainland, developed significantly into the vibrant community it is today. History will show in the future just how well the Chinese adjust to Hong Kong reverting to them. I hope it all works very well for the people of Hong Kong and that the Chinese Government does not engage in repressive activities against the people there. I hope pragmatism and commonsense prevail.

The return of Hong Kong to China also signifies the last really large British colony reverting to native rule. There are very few British protectorates or colonies left in the world. Hong Kong is the last big one. It has some six million people. It effectively draws down the curtain on the British Empire. The other night I was reading an interesting book called The Rise and Fall of the British Empire. It finished with a quote from Nelson Mandela extolling the virtues of the British Empire and saying that it was a force for moral good. That was at the time of apartheid and when he was trying to gain support for his movement. Because I think it is significant, I just want to quote the last sentence or so of that particular book. In a way, it sums up the very great legacy, the very positive legacy, the British Empire has left to the world. Yes, as with any empire, there was exploitation, there was cruelty and there was subjugation of people against their will. There were also significant benefits to civilisation. The reversion of Hong Kong to the Chinese is an appropriate time to reflect on that. The book concludes by stating:

Few empires have given their subjects the intellectual wherewithal to overthrow their rulers. None have been remembered with such affection and moral respect.

In a way, that is a very fitting tribute to the best of the British Empire. Fundamentally, it was a force for a lot of good in the world, and the passing of Hong Kong back to the Chinese Government is a time to reflect on that.

MS HORODNY (6.58): I want to speak very briefly about the costs of the uranium mining industry. I would like to start this talk by drawing members' attention to recent comments made by the director of the Wilderness Society, Kevin Parker. Since early March he has been travelling around Australia to inform Australians about the Federal Government's plans for the expansion of uranium mining. He has said:

Everywhere we stop, people from across the political spectrum are disturbed to hear that some 18 new uranium mines are being considered, including Jabiluka in the midst of the precious Kakadu World Heritage Area, and another at Kintyre in an area excised from Rudall River National Park [in Western Australia].

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