Blair: moral obligation to Hong Kong

Blair to Attend Handover Ceremony

But Tony Blair will boycott a Chinese event to swear in the undemocratically elected new legislative council.

He told the Commons at question time that he would be going, after doubts as to whether he would join the Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and the Prince of Wales as Britain's official representatives when the colony is handed over to the Chinese.

There had been doubts over his attendance, following concerns for human rights and political liberties in Hong Kong.

"We do owe a considerable obligation to the 6.5 million people who live there in Hong Kong," Mr Blair told the Commons.

"We are committed to the Joint Declaration that protects the rights of people in Hong Kong," he said. "We are committed to that and we will make sure and do everything in our power to make sure it is carried out."

He reminded the Commons that action had been taken to ensure that people in Hong Kong were helped by the previous Parliament to get British passports "precisely because of the concerns that we had".

"We take those concerns very seriously, we take their interests very seriously and though, of course, we wish for good relations with China - that is important both for Hong Kong and the British national interest - we want to make sure that the words of the Joint Declaration are carried out," said Mr Blair.

The Prime Minister is determined that his presence in Hong Kong will not be exploited by the Chinese in a bid to gain some international legitimacy for the new ruling body.

He will put pressure on France and Germany at next week's European Union summit in Amsterdam and the G7 meeting in Denver to join Britain and the United States and snub the investiture.

But the Government has decided against seeking a formal EU decision to stay away from the controversial swearing-in ceremony.

France, in particular, is understood to be anxious not to upset the Chinese in a drive for exports following a highly successful visit by President Jacques Chirac last month.

The United States snubbed China on Tuesday by announcing that Secretary of State Madeleine Albright would boycott the investiture of the unelected legislature at the handover gala.

The Government has insisted it will continue to put pressure on Beijing to respect human rights in Hong Kong after the handover.

Last month the Foreign Office condemned Chinese plans to restrict civil rights in Hong Kong. The proposals focus on curbing the right to demonstrate and banning foreign funding of local political groups.