UNCLASSIFIED
155064
MDLIAN 1216
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1330
OF 132145Z AUGUST 93
INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON, PEKING, UKREP.JLG HONG KONG
INFO ROUTINE HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK
INFO ROUTINE HKGO SAN FRANCISCO, HKGO GENEVA
PART TWO OF TWO
HONG KONG FUTURE: PRESS COVERAGE:
(7.8-13.8)
10. QUOTING SOURCES CLOSE TO THE BRITISH SIDE (13.8) THE PAPER SAID THERE WERE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES IN IMPOSING A NATIONALITY RESTRICTION IN 1995 UNDER CHINESE NATIONALITY LAW AND THE BL, WHICH WAS NOT YET IN FORCE. THE SOURCES SAID THE BRITISH SIDE WERE WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE CHINESE SIDE'S PROPOSALS BUT BELIEVED RESTRICTIONS SHOULD BE IMPOSED AFTER THE BL TOOK EFFECT IN 1997.
THE BL NATIONALITY REQUIREMENT MIGHT NOT BE A PROBLEM AS IT WAS HARD TO PREDICT NOW HOW MANY FOREIGNERS WOULD BE ELECTED IN 1995.
BESIDES SOME OF THEM MIGHT DECIDE TO GIVE UP THEIR FOREIGN PASSPORTS BEFORE 1997. THE PAPER QUOTED CHINESE SOURCES AS SAYING IF MORE THAN 12 LEGCO MEMBERS WERE HOLDING FOREIGN PASSPORTS IN 1997, SOME OF THEM WOULD HAVE TO GET OFF THE TRAIN.
JLG
11. THE EXPRESS (10.8) LEARNED THE NEXT JLG MEETING WOULD BE HELD
ON 13 SEPTEMBER IN PEKING. SOURCES SAID THE MEETING WAS MAINLY TO MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR THE MINISTERIAL MEETING IN SEPTEMBER. MAJOR TOPICS OF DISCUSSION WOULD INCLUDE DISPOSAL OF MILITARY LANDS, FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE NEW AIRPORT AND LOCALISATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE. SOURCES EXPECTED THERE WOULD BE MORE PROGRESS AT THIS ROUND ALTHOUGH SOME NEGATIVE IMPACT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BY THE NEW MEASURE OF ALLOWING EXPATRIATE CIVIL SERVANTS TO SWITCH TO LOCAL EMPLOYMENT TERMS. THE CHINESE SIDE WOULD INSIST ON BEING CONSULTED ON MAJOR CHANGES TO CERTAIN SYSTEMS BEFORE 1997. THE PAPER UNDERSTOOD WITH THE EASING OF THE DISPUTE OVER MILITARY LANDS, BOTH SIDES MIGHT DISCUSS DEFENCE AND SECURITY MATTERSDURING THE
TRANSITION.
12. SOME REPORTS (11.8) QUOTED ZHENG GUOXIONG OF NCNA AS CONFIRMING
THE NEXT JLG MEETING WOULD BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 13. ZHENG DID NOT
1
PAGE UNCLASSIFIED