Chinese leaders have repeatedly reaffirmed their commitment to Joint Declaration and concept of "one country, two systems".
NATIONALITY
- We share the concern felt by many people in Hong Kong
about emigration of talented people from the territory and about the impact of this on Hong Kong's economy and administration.
- On 20 December 1989 the Foreign Secretary announced that the Government proposed to introduce legislation to give British Citizenship to 50,000 key people and their dependants, without having to leave the territory in order to qualify. This legislation is designed to anchor people in Hong Kong so that they can continue to make their contribution to the territory's success and prosperity.
The British Nationality (Hong Kong) Bill was published on 4 April, and received Royal Assent on 27 July.
Details of how the selection scheme will operate were set out in an Order-in-Council which was approved by Parliament in October. Processing the first tranche of applications, some 87% of the placed, began on 1 December. It is hoped to begin issuing passports by late spring/summer 1991. The second tranche to be issued later, at a date nearer to 1997, will be reserved for those who would by then have moved into key positions.
We have made clear to the Chinese that the Act is not aimed at their interests. Its sole purpose is to boost confidence. We hope that they will come to accept it as contribution to Hong Kong's stability and prosperity.
Hong Kong is a British responsibility and one which we shall not shirk. But Hong Kong is also an international centre, with huge international investment. Its major trading partners have a strong interest in the territory's continuing stability and prosperity. We have therefore been encouraging our friends and partners to follow our lead in giving Hong Kong people assurances without their having to leave the territory. Some countries including Singapore, the USA, France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg have already found ways to do this.
CONFIDENCE
- In addition we are taking a number of other steps to
promote confidence, building on the foundation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
TOYADC