If pressed (Did you raise this with the Chinese?)
I told Premier Li Peng that in due course we would want to
discuss a range of issues concerning the 1995 LegCo
elections.
WHY SHOULD THERE BE FOREIGN "OBSERVERS" FOR SEPTEMBER
ELECTIONS?
Hong Kong is a free and open society; anyone is free to be in Hong Kong at the time of the elections. But no question
of giving official status or making special arrangements for anyone to "monitor" the elections.
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Responsibility for supervising the elections belongs to
the Hong Kong authorities.
ANY QUESTION ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
This is a matter for the Hong Kong Government.
PROGRESS OF NATIONALITY SCHEME
Understand processing of first tranche going smoothly. Places in under-subscribed categories will be re-allocated to second tranche (timing not yet set, but nearer 1997).
Believe scheme has helped restore confidence in the public and private sectors. Also had catalyst effect in
encouraging other countries to come up with similar schemes;
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(Defensive) A scheme for all Hong Kong people would not have been feasible: could not expect future Governments to accept such an immigration commitment.
PROCESSING APPLICATIONS IS SO SLOW KEY PEOPLE ARE EMIGRATING
This is a new point which we shall discuss with the Hong
OAKAFE/2