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FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2508
OF 13095OZ AUGUST 90
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
B21
32
056440
MDLIAN 2586
HKGO LONDON PERSONAL FOR YAXLEY
VISIT OF KE ZAISHUO TO HONG KONG : PRESS REPORT
1. QUOTING CHINESE SOURCES, AN ARTICLE IN THE HONG KONG DAILY NEWS (11 AUGUST) REPORTED THAT ONE OF KE ZAISHUO'S MISSIONS IN HONG KONG WAS TO EXAMINE, IN CONSULTATION WITH NCNA HONG KONG BRANCH, HOW A BODY OF HONG KONG PEOPLE COULD BE PUT TOGETHER TO ADMINISTER HONG KONG AFTER 1997. THE EXERCISE WAS AIMED AT COUNTERING THE POSSIBILITY THAT, UNDER THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME, PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS OF SARG COULD BE BRITISH CITIZENS, THUS RENDERING THE RESUMPTION OF SOVEREIGNTY MEANINGLESS.
2. THE SOURCE SAID THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT NOW HOPED THAT HONG KONG CIVIL SERVANTS WOULD MAKE UP THEIR MIND AND DECLARE PUBLICLY THAT THEY WOULD NOT TAKE UP THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN UK. IT WOULD ALSO BE ACCEPTABLE IF THEY RENOUNCED BEFORE 1997 THEIR
BRITISH CITIZENSHIP.
3. THE SOURCES ADDED THAT EVEN IF SUCH CIVIL SERVANTS WERE BLACKLISTED BY THE BRITISH, THEY COULD STILL ENJOY A GOOD CAREER AS THEY WOULD BE GIVEN IMPORTANT TASKS BY THE CHINESE SIDE IF THEY ''STOOD THE TEST'' AND HAD TALENT.
4. ACCORDING TO THE SOURCE, KE WAS LOOKING AT WHICH OF THE HONG KONG LAWS CONTRAVENED THE BL. SUCH LAWS WOULD BE REPEALED AFTER 1997. THE REPORT POINTED OUT THAT AS THE CHINESE HAD ALL ALONG BEEN REJECTING THE BOR, THE STATUS OF THIS LAW POST-1997 WAS VERY MUCH IN DOUBT.
FORD
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