A
HKC340
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
12 FEB 1990
DESK OFFICER
PRIME MINISTER'S QUESTIONS, 25 JANUARY
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
HONG KONG: CHINESE COMMENTS ON THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE
Points to Make
30
Purpose of this scheme is to give people the confidence to remain
in Hong Kong. In order to achieve this effect, the key points are:
Firstly that they will have the ability to leave the territory at any time and to come and go freely after 1997. The Joint Declaration and the Basic Law are quite clear about this.
Secondly if they did want to come to this country, they would be able to come here and settle. With full British passports
they would be able to do this.
Those who are granted full British citizenship will enjoy all the
benefits that this status confers. This includes British Consulate
protection all over the world, except for dual nationals in the country of their second nationality.
It has always been clear from the Joint Declaration that certain top posts in the SAR would be reserved for Chinese nationals and we accepted this. Always clear that people who were ambitious and who wished to serve in top jobs would have to make a decision whether to
seek foreign nationality.
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Restriction on foreign nationals becoming members of legislature seems unnecessarily strict and could prove difficult to implement. Cause of concern in Hong Kong. Important that Chinese authorities
clarify intentions.
WINABH
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