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(V)
Referring to the high degree of autonomy to be enjoyed by HK after 1997, Mr Lu said the future Basic Law would be a "self- contained"
document on the basis of which the courts in HK could make final
adjudication without referring to the Chinese constitution. This would be not infringe on the sovereign right of China because the Basic Law
was drafted in accordance with article 30 of the constitution.
(VI)
Mr Lu had spoken also on HK people's freedom of trade, of travel and of exchanging currencies. These will be written into the Basic Law. Dealing in stocks is an indispensible part of economic life in HK and will continue to develop after 1997. The local stock, bullion, foreign exchange and commodities markets will continue to develop. These will
also be stated in the Basic Law.
On the provision in the Joint Declaration that foreign investments
in HK would be protected, Mr Lu said efforts would continue to be made
to ensure that foreign capital would be able to move in and out of HK freely. Foreign investments will be protected by the law. This will also be written into the Basic Law.
Mr Lu said that the Basic Law would provide that HK would enjoy religious freedom in the future. The various freedoms now enjoyed by people in the religious field would be safeguarded. He said he believed that the future SAR Government would continue to give subventions to social service programmes sponsored by religious bodies. The Catholic Church in HK could maintain its relationship with the Vatican.
On press freedom, Mr Lu said the future SAR would enjoy a high degree of press freedom. Since the SAR retains the capitalist system, one cannot ask all publications to support socialism. The "four basic principles" will not be applicable in HK. Publications can criticise both the SAR Government and the central government. Existing laws governing news reporting, like any other laws, will remain basically unchanged unless they contravene the Basic Law because of the change of government.
On the question of the future SAR passport, Mr Lu said that under Chinese nationality laws, a person would be considered a Chinese citizen if he was born in a Chinese territory to a Chinese parent. HK is Chinese territory. Therefore anyone born here to a Chinese parent will be considered a Chinese citizen. Chinese citizens in HK can hold the BN(0) passport. they can also hold the HK SAR passport. It is
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