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INFO ROUTINE HKGONDON PEKING UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO ROUTINE HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK, HKGO SAN FRANCISCO INFO ROUTINE HKGO GENEVA, UKMIS GENEVA
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: PRESS COVERAGE:
SUMMARY
1.
WEEKLY ROUNDUP
THE MEDIA CONTINUED TO GIVE GOOD COVERAGE TO NEWS RELATING TOT
HE NATIONALITY PACKAGE DURING THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW. A BRIEFING GIVEN BY TOP GOVERNMENT SOURCES ON THE PLANNED AIRPORT PROJECT AND
THE NCNA HK BRANCH'S REACTION TO THE BRIEFING ALSO RECEIVED COVERAGE.
NATIONALITY
2. SEVERAL PAPERS (1.8) CARRIED A COMMENTARY ISSUED BY THE HK
CHINA NEWS AGENCY COMMENTING ON THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE. IT SAID
THAT CHINA'S RECENT STATEMENT HAD MADE CLEAR MEASURES TO BE TAKEN TO DEAL WITH THE PACKAGE, INCLUDING NOT RECOGNISING THE BRITISH CITIZENSHIP OBTAINED BY BENEFICIARIES OF THE PACKAGE, NOT ALLOWING THEM TO OBTAIN BRITISH CONSULAR PROTECTION AND NOT ALLOWING THEM TO
USE THE PASSPORT TO ENTER AND LEAVE HK AND OTHER TERRITORIES IN CHINA. IT SAID THAT CHINA WAS FORCED TO TAKE THESE MEASURES BECAUSE
THE PACKAGE WOULD ENABLE THE BRITISH TO SELECTIVELY GIVE THE RIGHT
OF ABODE IN THE UK TO SOME HK PEOPLE WHO WOULD IN TURN REMAIN LOYAL
TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IN THE RUNNING OF HK AFTER 1997.
3. SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHINESE TEAM ON THE JLG GUO
FENGMIN SAID THAT HE DID NOT THINK THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF CHINA'S STANCE ON THE NATIONALITY SCHEME WOULD ERODE CONFIDENCE IN HK, SING TAO JIH PAO AND TA KUNG PAO (4.8) REPORTED. NCNA HK BRANCH VICE- DIRECTOR ZHENG HUA SAID THAT CHINA WOULD CERTAINLY WORK OUT WAYS TO BAR BENEFICIARIES OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY PACKAGE FROM USING THE BRITISH PASSPORTS TO ENTER AND LEAVE THE HK SAR, SOME PAPERS (4.8) REPORTED.
4.
THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE HOME OFFICE, PETER LLOYD,
1
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