A
RUN-UP TO 1997. THESE WERE NEEDED SINCE THE BASIC LAW, BEING BASED ON BROAD PRINCIPLES, COULD NOT DEAL WITH ALL TECHNICAL MATTERS
RELATING TO HONG KONG'S FUTURE, FOR EXAMPLE CHVIL SERVANTS' PENSIONS. MEMBERS OF THE BLCC SUB-GROUP ON FINANCIAL AND MONETARY
AFFAIRS WHICH MET ON 12 JUNE AGREED THAT THE BASIC LAW SHOULD
STIPULATE ALL THE EXISTING SAFEGUARDS FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMIC
SYSTEM INCLUDING THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF NON-INTERVENTION.
5. OATH OF ALLEGIANCE:
BILL PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE FOR NEW EXCO
EMEMBERS, RECEIVED MODERATE COVERAGE. THE BILL PROPOSES TO GIVE
NEW EXCO MEMBERS THE CHOICE OF SWEARING ALLEGIANCE TO THE QUEEN
OR TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. LEGCO UNOFFICIAL HO SAM-CHU SAND
THE ALTERNATIVE OATH WOULD ENABLE EXCO TO TAKE IN MEMBERS FROM
VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY #NCLUDING INDIRECTLY ELECTED
LEGCO UNOFFICIALS. LEGCO MEMBER. HUH YIFAT SAID THAT THE CHANGE
IN THE OATH WOULD BE HELPFUL TO POLITICAL REFORMS IN HONG KONG.
THE OATH AND DECLARATIONS (AMENDMENT)
6. MACAU: THE FIRST ROUND OF TALKS BETWEEN CHINA AND PORTUGAL ON
THE FUTURE OF MACAU WOULD BE HELD IN PEKING ON 30 JUNE AND 1 JULY, ACCORDING TO AN NCNA REPORT IN PEKING. AT THE FIRST MEETING THE WORKING PROCEDURES WOULD BE DISCUSSED AND A DRAFT AGREEMENT WOULD
BE PUT TO THE PORTUGUESE FOR CONSIDERATION. ALEXANDRE HO, A MEMBER
MEMBERS
OF THE MACAU LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY SAND HE THOUGHT THE TWO SUDES WOULD HOLD DIFFERENT VIEWS ON SUCH QUESTIONS AS HISTORY, LAWS, LANGUAGE, LOCALLY BORN INHABITANTS AND MACAU'S LEGAL POSITION. HE HOPED THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF MACAU WOULD BE TAKEN INTO
CONSIDERATION BY BOTH SIDES. THE PORTUGUESE DEPUTY MINISTER FOR PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, FERNANDO NARGUEIRA, SAID MACAU CITIZENS SHOULD HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR FUTURE. THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT
WOULD SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF MACAU RESIDENTS HOLDING
PORTUGUESE PASSPORTS.
7. OTHERS: SPEECHES BY THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE AND THE SENIOR EXCO UNOFFICIAL, SIR S.Y. CHUNG HW LONDON ON 11 JUNE WERE REPORTED QUITE WIDELY. SIR GEOFFREY HAD SAID THAT THE JOINT LIHANSON GROUP HAD ACHEIVED FOUR IMPORTANT SUCCESSES. THESE WERE:
MAKE HONG KONG A CONTRACTING PARTY AT THE GATT: AGREEMENT ON PRACTICAL DETAILS REGARDING HONG KONG PEOPLE'S TRAVEL DOCUEMTNS:
NATIONALITY ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG'S BRITISH SUBJECTS: AND
THE GOOD WORK OF THE LAND COMMISSION. SHR S.Y. SAID THE HONG KONG
PEOPLE WERE CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING AND INCREASING THEIR CONTRIBUTION
TO CHINA. HE SAND THAT THE CONFIDENCE OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE - HAD GENERALLY BEEN RESTORED BECAUSE THE JOINT DECLARATION HAD BEEN ACCEPTED AND THEY KNEW THE AGREEMENT WOULD BE SATISFACTORILY IMPLEMENTED. QUOTING THE PEOPLE'S DAILY (OVERSEAS EDITION), THE PAPERS REPORTED THAT CHINESE WHO WISH TO VISHT HONG KONG OR MACAU WILL CONTINUE TO BE UNDER IMMIGRATION CONTROL. THIS WAS TO ENSURE THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF THESE TWO PLACES THE REPORT
SAND.
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