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110321 MDLIAN 8355
13. SEVERAL PAPERS (17.11) QUOTED A MEMBER OF THE TEAM OF CHINESE EXPERTS ON THE AIRPORT PROJECT AS SAYING THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S MOVE TO INVITE BIDS FOR PREQUALIFICATION OF CONTRACTORS WAS ''VERY INAPPROPRIATE''.
14. THE MINISTER OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY OF QUEBEC, CANADA, INDICATED THAT BUSINESSMEN OF HIS PROVINCE WERE INTERESTED IN TAKING PART IN HONG KONG'S PADS. THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL WAS ORGANISING A SERIES OF SEMINARS IN EUROPE TO PROMOTE HONG KONG'S AIRPORT PROJECT TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE PART IN IT, A FEW PAPERS (15.11) REPORTED, QUOTING A CHINA NEWS AGENCY DISPATCH.
NATIONALITY
BRITISH NATIONALITY PACKAGE
15. THE SUNDAY MORNING POST REPORTED THAT A BRITISH HOME OFFICE OFFICIAL HAD ACCUSED HONG KONG PEOPLE OF IGNORANCE ABOUT THE BRITISH NATIONALITY PACKAGE IF THEY THOUGH 225,000 PASSPORTS HAD TO BE ISSUED TO QUALIFIED LOCALS. THE PAPER NOTED THAT A SEPARATE SCHEME, UNDER WHICH TOP EMPLOYEES OF UK COMPANIES BASED IN HONG KONG COULD GAIN THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN BRITAIN, WAS BEING ACTIVELY PURSUED.
16. LU PING TOLD AN URBCO DELEGATION THAT THE MAJORITY OF CIVIL SERVANTS WERE NOT SUBJECT TO NATIONALITY RESTRICTIONS AND THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE THEIR SERVICE AFTER 1997.
17. SOME PAPERS QUOTE THE CANADIAN COMMISSIONER IN HONG KONG, JOHN HIGGINBOTHAM, AS SAYING THAT THE BRITISH NATIONALITY PACKAGE WOULD NOT BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN ENSURING THE CONTINUED PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG AFTER 1997, AND THAT HONG KONG HAD TO MAINTAIN ITS ADVANTAGES IN ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS AND THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO SECURE THEIR FUTURE, LIKE PARTICIPATING IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS.
US CONSULATE
18. THE ORIENTAL DAILY NEWS QUOTE THE US CONSUL-GENERAL IN HONG KONG, RICHARD WILLIAMS, AS SAYING THAT THE US MIGHT CHANGE ITS POLICY ON THE ISSUE OF VISAS, ENABLING THOSE HONG KONG PEOPLE WHO INTENDED TO EMIGRATE TO THE COUNTRY AFTER 1997 TO ALSO APPLY FOR NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS TO VISIT OR TO DO BUSINESS IN THE US IN THE MEANTIME.
AUSTRALIA
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