BUSABO (3)
Citizens (BDTCS). An estimated 1.5 million actually hold BOTC
passports. Although Hong Kong people lost the automatic right of
abode in the UK as long ago as 1962, the issue has continued to be a source of much resentment. The events of 3/4 June, and the prospect of Hong Kong's reversion to China in 1997, brought these feelings to
the surface. The Prime Minister has already made it clear that it
would be impossible for the British Government to give right of
abode in Britain to all the people of Hong Kong. The potential
practical difficulties would be overwhelming. The British Government are however working urgently on a scheme to give people in both the private and public sector, whose skills and talents Hong Kong needs, the confidence to remain in the territory.
announcement will be made as soon as possible.
Basic Law
An
The Basic Law will be a constitutional charter for Hong Kong, giving
legal effect under the Chinese constitution to the provisions of the
Joint Declaration. As it will be a Chinese law, it is being drafted
by a committee appointed by the Chinese National People's Congress. The first draft was published in April 1988. After a period of consultation in Hong Kong, and subsequent revisions, a second draft was published in February 1989 for further public consultation.
The second public consultation period in Hong Kong was to have finished at the end of July but was extended to October following the events of 3/4 June. The Chinese still intend to proceed with promulgation of the final version in the Spring of 1990 as originally planned.
Although the drafting of the Basic Law is formally a Chinese responsibility, Britain as co-signatory to the Joint Declaration has the right to ensure that the provisions of the Basic Law fully accord with the terms of the Joint Declaration. It is also vital
that the Basic Law takes full account of Hong Kong people's views
and commands their confidence. The Government have therefore been following the drafting process extremely closely and have made their views known to the Chinese authorities. The main areas of public
concern now are the political structure (see paragraph on