PRESS RELEASE
27 May 1997
Democratic Party Chairman Martin Lee and Legislator James To Travel to UK; To Meet Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday
On Tuesday morning, Democratic Party Chairman Martin Lee and legislator James To arrive in the UK for meetings with the new British leadership and members of parliament. While in London, Martin Lee will see Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Minister Robin Cook on Wednesday, May 28. He and James To will also see Home Secretary Jack Straw and Heritage Minister Tony Banks, in addition to opposition leader John Major and other Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs.
The two pro-democracy legislators will put the case for defending Hong Kong's elected legislature and freedoms. They will also strongly urge British officials to allow all Hong Kong citizens who are entitled to BNO passports to receive them and discuss the Vietnamese refugee situation.
Arriving in the UK, Martin Lee commented:
"I hope to impress on Prime Minister Blair and his ministers the importance of elected institutions, human rights and the rule of law to keeping Hong Kong a free and prosperous society. This is the last real opportunity for the British government to fight China's plans to sack elected legislators and roll back civil liberties laws. I will urge Mr. Blair and his officials to bear in mind the people of Hong Kong and those who have been democratically elected to represent them, to hold China to the terms of the Sino-British Joint Declaration and to speak up for Hong Kong's freedoms, rule of law and democratic institutions."
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Partial UK schedule follows:
Tuesday, May 27
- 6:10am Martin Lee arrives from New York on BA 112
- 10:15am Meet Lord Willoughby deBroke, at Legco London Office (LLO)
- 12:00pm Press Briefing (at LLO)
- 2:00-5:00pm Interviews
Wednesday, May 28
- 9:30am Meet Foreign Secretary Robin Cook at FCO
- 3:15pm Meet Home Secretary Jack Straw at Home Office
- 4:30pm Meet Prime Minister Tony Blair at Number 10 Downing Street
Thursday, May 29
- 10:00am Meet Opposition Leader John Major
- 2:15pm Meet National Heritage Minister Tony Banks
- 9:25pm Martin Lee and James To leave London for Hong Kong on BA 27
- 5:00pm Arrive Hong Kong on 30 May
- Press Conference: 5:30 Kai Tak VIP Room
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