WHEN IS THE DRAFT ORDER LIKELY TO BE DEBATED IN PARLIAMENT?
27. THE PARLIMENTARY AGENDA FOR 1985/85 IS NOT YET DETERMINED. BUT FIRST DEBATES ARE LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR, FOLLOWED BY CONSIDERATION OF VIEWS EXPRESSED AND FINAL DEBATES UNDER THE AFFIRMATIVE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE PROBABLY IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH NEXT YEAR.
IS LEGCO GOING TO DEBATE THE DRAFT ORDER?
28. THIS IS A MATTER FOR LEGCO. UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE MOST LIKELY TO SEEK A DEBATE ON IT.
CAN DISTRICT BOARDS DEBATE THE DRAFT ORDER?
29 THIS IS A MATTER FOR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT BOARDS. IF THEY DO WISH TO DISCUSS THE DRAFT ORDER, SECURITY BRANCH WILL MAKE SURE THAT SUBJECT OFFICERS ARE AVAILABLE TO EXPLAIN PROVISIONS AND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS.
WILL THE GOVERNMENT SET UP A SPECIAL OFFICE TO COLLATE AND ASSESS PUBLIC OPINION?
30. NO SPECIAL OFFICE WILL BE SET UP 3UT BOTH SECURITY BRANCH AND THE NATIONALITY SECTION OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATELY RE-INFORCED TO DEAL WITH THE COLLATION OF PUBLIC OPINION. IF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY QUERIES, THEY ARE WELCOME TO GET IN TOUCH WITH SUBJECT OFFICERS IN SECURITY BRANCH (5-95296 AND 5-951893) OR THE NATIONALITY SECTION OF IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT (3-7328503).
WHAT ARE THE PRIVILEGES AND LIABILITIES OF COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS?
31. COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS MAY BE PRIVY COUNCILLORS OR MAY BE ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT, MAY SERVE AS MEMBERS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES, AND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR AWARDS UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIP PLAN AND FOR THE AWARD OF HONOURS ETC. LIABILITIES INCLUDE JURY SERVICE, AND EXTRADITION ETC.
HAVE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT BEEN CONSULTED ON THE DRAFT ORDER?
32. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE, AS A COURTESY, BEEN GIVEN ADVANCE COPIES OF THE WHITE PAPER.
CONFIDENTIAL
/WHERE