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environmental health. Where they consider it appropriate, they can arrange for the disinfection of articles following an outbreak of disease.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Falkland Islands
Sir Patrick Wall asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now declare a 200-mile fisheries limit around the Falkland Islands.
Mr. Renton: This possibility remains under careful consideration. It raises a number of complex issues. No decisions have yet been taken.
Hong Kong (British Dependent Territories Citizens)
Mr. Stanbrook asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Orpington on 26 November, Official Report, column 383, if he will identify the 6,000 British dependent territories citizens in Hong Kong whom he believes the Chinese Government may not consider to be Chinese compatriots in terms of the Chinese memorandum attached to the draft agreement with the Government of the Chinese Republic, giving the expressed reason for their exclusion from the category of Chinese compatriots.
Mr. Luce: The British dependent territories citizens to whom my hon. Friend refers are people not of Chinese ethnic origin. I would reiterate the point that this is a matter for the Chinese Government.
Mr. Stanbrook asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what will be the status in terms of the British Nationality Act 1981 of British dependent territories citizens in Hong Kong who will lose their citizenship on 1 July 1997 and who will not be considered to be Chinese compatriots in the terms of the Chinese memorandum attached to the draft agreement with the Government of China;
(2) if he intends to propose legislation to define the status to be retained by British dependent territories citizens in Hong Kong after 1 July 1997; and in what way that status will differ from existing categories of citizenship.
Mr. Luce: Proposals for amendment of the British Nationality Act 1981 will be put before the House in due course. Subject to parliamentary approval, on 1 July 1997 all persons who were on 30 June 1997 British dependent territories citizens by virtue of a connection with Hong Kong will, whether or not they are Chinese compatriots in terms of the Chinese memorandum, be eligible to retain an appropriate status under the British Nationality Act, provided that they hold or are included in a British passport issued before that date, except that persons born on or after 1 January 1997 but before 1 July 1997 may obtain or be included in such a passport up to 31 December 1997. The new status proposed will be similar to the present BDTC status, but will not carry the right to transmissibility by descent.
Hong Kong (Overseas Civil Service)
Mr. Stanbrook asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements
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have been made for the payment of lump sum compensation to pensionable members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service in Hong Kong who feel obliged to leave that service before normal retirement age when Hong Kong is transferred to the sovereignty of the Chinese Republic.
Mr. Luce: No such arrangements have yet been made.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
Foreign Affairs Council
Mr. Nicholas Baker asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council of 26 to 28 November.
Mr. Rifkind: My right hon. and learned Friend represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council which met in Brussels from 26-28 November. I was also present.
In the context of enlargement, Ministers discussed reform of the internal wine regime, fisheries, certain detailed aspects of the Portuguese negotiations, Spanish agriculture and Spanish industrial tariff transition. Ministerial negotiations with Spain and Portugal were held in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council. Enlargement issues will be further discussed at the European Council on 3-4 December.
Following its meeting with the European Parliament on 21 November, the Council discussed the text on budget discipline. The substance of the text has already been agreed. We made it clear that we would not be in a position to seek the approval of the House for implementation of the inter-governmental agreement on supplementary financing for 1984 until the text on budget discipline has been formally adopted.
The Council declared its concern and disappointment that the United States has rejected the Community's terms for negotiating restraints on steel pipe and tube exports, fully reserving its rights under the GATT. It agreed to denounce the 1982 EC-US exchange of letters on these exports.
Ministers agreed that the committee of Permanent Representatives should consider further Vice-President Davignon's request for an exchange of letters on science and technology co-operation with the Japanese.
The Council agreed the generalised scheme of preferences for 1985, subject to a British parliamentary scrutiny reserve which has since been lifted.
Ministers considered the Commission's proposals for integrated Mediterranean programmes. No agreement was reached on this issue which will be discussed at the European Council in Dublin on 3-4 December.
Council of Ministers
Mr. Sackville asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.
Mr. Rifkind: The usual written forecast was deposited in the House earlier today. Heads of State and Government will meet at the European Council in Dublin on 3-4 December. At present nine meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for December. In addition,
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