UNCLASSIFIED
017436
MDLIAN 9954
FOR NATURALISATION. WEN WEI PO (31.7) SAID THAT CHINA'S STATEMENT ON THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE MUST NOT BE SEEN AS A MOVE TO RESTRICT THE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AFTER 1997 AS SUGGESTED BY SOME PEOPLE. THE PAPER SAID THAT THE ISSUE COULD BE RESOLVED THROUGH FUTURE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES THROUGH THE JLG.
BILL OF RIGHTS
8.
THE BILL OF RIGHTS BILL HAD BEEN TABLED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING IN LEGCO, THE MEDIA (26.7) REPORTED. INTRODUCING THE BILL, THE CS SAID THAT IT WAS IN LINE WITH THE JD AND BL. HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD PASSED THE BILL TO THE CHINESE FOR REFERENCE THROUGH THE JLG AND OTHER CHANNELS TO ENSURE THAT THE BILL WOULD CONTINUE TO BE IN FORCE AFTER 1997. A SURVEY COMMISSIONED BY THE SCMP FOUND THAT A CROSS-SECTION OF THE LOCAL POPULATION BELIEVED THAT THE NEW TERRITORY'S MALE SUCCESSION LAW WAS ARCHAIC AND SHOULD BE REPEALED, THE PAPER (30.7) REPORTED.
ELECTIONS
9.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1991 ELECTIONS BY THE GOVERNMENT WAS ACCORDED WIDE COVERAGE IN THE MEDIA (25.7), WITH TA KUNG PAO USING THE NEWS IN THE BACK-PAGE LEAD. IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE THREE-TIER ELECTIONS WOULD BE HELD ON SUNDAYS, WITH DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS ON MARCH 3, MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON MAY 5 AND LEGCO DIRECT ELECTIONS ON SEPTEMBER 15. HOWEVER, THE LEGCO FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS WOULD BE HELD ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12.
ZHOU NAN
10.
NCNA HONG KONG DIRECTOR ZHOU NAN SAID THAT CHINA'S POLICIES TOWARDS HONG KONG WAS MADE ON THE BASIS OF BROAD PRINCIPLES, THE MEDIA (27.7) REPORTED IN GOOD COVERAGE. REFERRING TO MR MAUDE'S VISIT TO CHINA, MR ZHOU SAID THAT IT WAS A POSITIVE STEP TAKEN BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IN IMPROVING SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS. HE SAID THAT THE VISIT WAS A GOOD START TO IMPROVING SINO-BRITISH TIES. WHEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON PEOPLE RUSHING TO APPLY FOR NATURALISATION, MR ZHOU SAID THAT CHINA'S STANCE ON THE NATIONALITY ISSUE HAD BEEN MADE CLEAR SEVERAL TIMES, ADDING THAT CHINA WOULD NOT CHANGE ITS STANCE BECAUSE OF A MINOR INCIDENT.
FORD