JAYAEV (4)
BACKGROUND
Joint Declaration
1. It would be helpful to put across our firm belief that work on
both implementation of the Joint Declaration and the drafting of the
Basic Law is proceeding well, contrary to the negative impressions
created by many commentators in the media (including the Wall Street
Journal).
2. Good progress has been made in implementing the Joint Declaration through the work of the Joint Liaison Group, eg on
maintaining Hong Kong's links with international organisations; on
passports and travel documents for Hong Kong people; on a new pension scheme for the Hong Kong civil service; and on separate air
services agreements for Hong Kong, etc. But much is still to be
done, eg on the requirements for the future PLA garrison and on
localisation in Hong Kong law of UK statutes applied to Hong Kong.
Basic Law
3. A revised draft of the Basic Law is being considered by the
Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress from
15-22 February and is likely to be published at the beginning of
March for a second round of consultation in Hong Kong. Many
amendments have been made to the first draft which go a long way
towards meeting the concerns expressed in Hong Kong about the first
draft. However, there remains considerable disagreement over the
provisions on the future political structure. We have so far
refrained from commenting publicly on this aspect other than to
express the hope that a consensus will emerge.
Emigration
4.
Some 30,000 people left in 1987, whilst 3,000 former emigrants
returned using their old Hong Kong travel documents. An unknown number returned on newly acquited passports. The figure for 1988
was 45,000 with a net outward flow of no less than 40,000. Of
these, nearly 8,000 went to Australia. The Australians are well