21. GOVERNMENT HAS EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT AGREEMENT REACHED WITH THE CHINESE PROVIDES A SECURE BASIS ON WHICH HONG KONG CAN CONTINUE TO GROW AND PROSPER. NO REASON TO THINK ANYONE WILL BE FORCED TO LEAVE HONG KONG. (IF PRESSED) IF SITUATION SHOULD ARISE, GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY WILL NO DOUBT CONSIDER SYMPATHETICALLY ON CASE BY CASE BASIS.
UNDERTAKINGS (IF PRESSED)
22. IN CERTAIN LIMITED CASES CERTAIN RIGHTS OF ADMISSION WILL EXIST AT THE DISCRETION OF THE HOME SECRETARY. THAT WILL BE ON A VERY LIMITED BASIS FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE EXPOSED TO SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND SPECIAL FACTORS. INAPPROPRIATE TO DISCLOSE CATEGORIES, NUMBERS INVOLVED, OR SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS OR FACTORS CONCERNED.
WHEN WILL THE DEBATES TAKE PLACE?
23. PARLIAMENTARY TIME-TABLE NOT SETTLED, BUT HOPE TO ARRANGE IN GOOD TIME FOR THE ORDER TO BE MADE BY APRIL NEXT YEAR.
WHY IS THE DRAFT ORDER PUBLISHED AS AN ANNEX TO A WHITE PAPER?
24. PUBLICATION IN THE FORM OF A WHITE PAPER IS IN FULFILLMENT OF UNDERTAKINGS MADE BY THE UK GOVERNMENT WHEN THE HONG KONG ACT 1985 WAS GOING THROUGH PARLIAMENT THAT PARLIAMENT WOULD BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE THE DRAFT ORDER IN A PRELIMINARY WAY BEFORE THE HOUSE IS ASKED TO GIVE ITS FINAL APPROVAL.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE DRAFT ORDER?
25. YES. THE DRAFT ORDER IS, AS SOME MPS HAVE DESCRIBED, 'AN ORDER WITH GREEN EDGES'. ACCORDING TO THE WAY IN WHICH THE DEBATE GOES, THE GOVERNMENT WILL, IF NECESSARY, WITHDRAW THE DRAFT ORDER AND REVISE IT BEFORE LAYING IT AGIAN BEFORE THE HOUSE FOR DEBATE IN THE NORMAL WAY UNDER THE AFFIRMATIVE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE. IT WILL BE OPEN TO THE HOUSE TO EXPRESS ITS VIEWS WITHOUT HAVING TO OPPOSE OR REJECT THE ORDER AS A WHOLE. BUT ANY CHANGES MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION, THE UK MEMORANDUM ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND THE HONG KONG ACT 1983.
WHAT DOES THE AFFIRMATIVE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE COMPRISE?
26. UNDER THE NORMAL AFFIRMATIVE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE FOR MAKING AN ORDER IN COUNCIL, 1.E. WHEN PARLIAMENT IS INVITED TO APPROVE IT BY AFFIRMATIVE RESOLUTION, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO MAKE AMENDMENTS TO THE DRAFT ORDER. THE HOUSE WOULD VOTE ON THE DRAFT ORDER PRESENTED, AND COULD ADOPT OR REJECT IT IN ITS ENTIRETY. BUT THE PROCEDURE TO ZE ADOPTED IN THE CASE OF THE HONG KONG (BRITISH NATIONALITY) ORDER WILL BE QUITE DIFFERENT. VOTING UNDER THE AFFIRMATIVE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE WILL BE PRECEDED BY PRELIMINARY DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT.
CONFIDENTIAL
WHEN
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