Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, can I say that I acknowledge and agree with Senator Steele-John on some of the sentiments he just voiced. We are, indeed, all fortunate to be Australians, and those of us who have the honour and responsibility of sitting in this place are incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to do so. But, whether we are here in this chamber or Australians going about their daily lives elsewhere across our great country, we all enjoy certain freedoms and liberties for which we should be incredibly grateful. That's because, indeed, arguably most of the world certainly does not enjoy the same freedoms, liberties and high-quality way of life that Australia has been able to create.

The government have expressed our concern in relation to circumstances in Hong Kong. We have urged for respect of the autonomy and fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the basic law under 'one country, two systems'. In relation to this agreement that's before us, the Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement, we proceed with it because it gives effect to the two systems that we recognise. We recognise that the system that exists in Hong Kong is not, and is not meant to be, the same as the system that exists across the People's Republic of China. Yes, there are certain tensions that are there in Hong Kong at present that have been deeply troubling during the consideration of this treaty by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties and this legislation's passage through the parliament. However, the fundamental point remains that Australia has a trade agreement with the People's Republic of China, with mainland China, that has been in place for some time. The underpinning legislation passed through this parliament some time ago, which, I note, has yielded significant trade benefits for Australia.

We do not have a separate trade agreement in place with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This allows us to put in place such an agreement, therefore having completely different terms of agreement and a completely separate agreement existing in our relations with Hong Kong at a trade level, distinct and different from the agreement we have with the People's Republic of China, and thereby giving, in a policy sense in Australia, life to respect for the two separate systems that are in operation. That's why we continue to proceed with it. Elsewhere, of course, we are continuing to engage with the government of Hong Kong as well as the government of the People's Republic of China to urge restraint, dialogue with protesters, respect for fundamental human rights and respect for the basic law that operates overall under the two systems. We will continue to make that advocacy as required.