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FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 4121
OF 141155Z DECEMBER 89
AND TO PRIORITY PEKING
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INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
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RECEIVEO
Li
STRY
15 DEC1989
RIGHT OF ABODE
CHINESE ATTITUDE
IN TE
•
1 A MAINLAND MEMBER OF THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE, XU CHONGDE, IS REPORTED BY WEN WEI BAO OF 14 DECEMBER TO HAVE TOLD REPORTERS AT THE BLDC MEETING IN CANTON THAT TWO PROPOSALS FOR AMENDMENT TO THE BASIC LAW MIGHT BE RAISED WHICH WOULD SPECIFY THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS MUST NOT ONLY BE CHINESE, BUT MUST ALSO NOT/NOT HAVE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK, AND THAT THEY MUST TAKE AN OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE PRC.
COMMENT
2. IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE, IF THE CHINESE ARE MINDED TO INTRODUCE SUCH AMENDMENTS, FOR PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS TO BE REQUIRED NOT/NOT TO HAVE THE RIGHT OF ABODE GENERALLY OVERSEAS, RATHER THAN JUST IN THE UK. BUT IF AND IT REMAINS A SUBSTANTIAL IF THIS WERE TO BE THE LIMIT OF ANY FORMAL CHINESE ACTION ON THE RIGHT OF ABODE QUESTION, IT COULD BE SEEN AS HELPFULLY CIRCUMSCRIBED AND INDEED COULD CARRY SOME IMPLICATIONS THAT OFFICIALS WHO RECEIVE FULL BRITISH PASSPORTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AS FOREIGN.
WILSON
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
62
ΜΑΙΝ
59
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
LIMITED
NEWS D
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/LORD BRABAZON
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
MR BLATHERWICK
HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH (FE)
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