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130025 MDHIAN 9616
THE JD MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THERE CAN BE FOREIGN NATIONALS IN THE SAR PUBLIC SERVICE, EXCEPT IN CERTAIN POSTS. WE ALWAYS MADE IT CLEAR DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT SUCH PERSONS WOULD OWE THEIR LOYALTY TO THE SARG. THE JD LAYS DOWN THAT THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO THE SARG.
E) AS THE CHINESE WILL HAVE SEEN, THIS WAS NOT A POPULAR POLITICAL MOVE IN BRITAIN. IT IS NOT SOMETHING WHICH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE UNDERTAKEN LIGHTLY. WE ARE NOT DOING IT IN ORDER TO RETAIN INFLUENCE IN HONG KONG, OR FOR OTHER NATIONAL ADVANTAGE, BUT BECAUSE WE CAN SEE NO OTHER WAY OF KEEPING THE PEOPLE CONCERNED IN HONG KONG UNTIL AND AFTER 1997 AND THAT FULFILLING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE JOINT OBJECTIVE OF MAKING A SUCCESS OF THE
1984 ARRANGEMENTS.
F) (IN ANSWER TO COMPLAINTS ABOUT LACK OF CONSULTATION) AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT POLITICAL DECISION IN THE UK, SO IMPORTANT THAT IT COULD BE DECIDED ONLY CABINET. ONCE THAT HAD HAPPENED ESSENTIAL TO PUT IT TO PARLIAMENT IMMEDIATELY, TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGING SPECULATION. WE INFORMED CHINESE SIDE AT JLG XIII THAT THIS PACKAGE WAS UNDER CONSIDERATION. CHINESE SIDE HAVE NOT RESPONDED. IN ANSWER TO BRITISH MPS, WHO ASKED WHEN VISITING PEKING, CHINESE VICE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN MARCH SAID IT WAS A MATTER FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
G) CON CHINESE NATIONALITY LAW) ALTHOUGH THE CHINESE SIDE'S POSITION HAS BEEN THAT HONG KONG IS CHINESE TERRITORY AND CHINESE NATIONALITY LAW HAS ALWAYS APPLIED TO ITS INHABITANTS, IN PRACTICE FACT THAT HONG KONG HAS BEEN UNDER BRITISH RULE PRESENTS SOME UNAVOIDABLE ANOMALIES. BDTC PASSPORT ISSUED TO RESIDENTS OF HONG CLEARLY RELATED TO OUR VIEW OF HONG KONG AS A BRITISH DEPENDENCY, AND WE HAVE ACCEPTED, IN THE 1984 ARRANGEMENTS THAT CHINESE, WHO TAKE A DIFFERENT VIEW, DO NOT RECOGNISE IT AS A NATIONALITY DOCUMENT. BUT FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP IS DIFFERENT. CHINESE SIDE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT THEY RECOGNISE PERSONS OF CHINESE RACE WITH FULL BRITISH PASSPORTS AS BRITISH AND THEIR PRACTICE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT WITH THIS POSITION. THEY HAVE NOT IN PRACTICE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THAT NATIONALITY HAS BEEN ACQUIRED. OF COURSE, MANY CHINESE NOW RESIDENT IN HONG KONG HAVE IN THE PAST ACQUIRED BRITISH AND FOREIGN NATIONALITIES DURING PERIODS WHEN THEY HAVE SETTLED OVERSEAS BEFORE THEY RETURNED TO HONG KONG. SUCH PERSONS
COME AND GO REGULARLY TO AND FROM HONG KONG.
H)
GRANT OF CITIZENSHIP UNDER THIS PACKAGE DOES NOT OFFEND CHINESE
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