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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1981
+THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG DESERVE NOTHING LESS, HE STRESSED.
FURTHERMORE, A HONG KONG CITIZEN MAY ACQUIRE THE STATUS OF
A BRITISH CITIZEN BY THE PROCESS OF REGISTRATION UNDER THE PROVISION IN CLAUSE 4 OF THE BILL, SAID MR SWAINE.
ONCE THAT STATUS IS ACQUIRED, HE HAS THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE SAME WAY AS ANY OTHER BRITISH CITIZEN.
THE BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR REGISTRATION, HE SAID, IS THAT THE HONG KONG CITIZEN HAS LIVED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS, WITH THE FURTHER REQUIREMENT THAT DURING THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS OF HIS STAY HE IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY IMMIGRATION RESTRICTIONS.
HE EMPHASISED THAT THIS PROVISION APPLIES TO ALL HONG KONG CITIZENS - BORN OR NATURALISED HERE - AND NOT TO JUST A SELECT OR FAVOURED MINORITY.
MR SWAINE DESCRIBED THE SECURING OF THIS CONCESSION BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AS A VERY NOTABLE SUCCESS+.
NOTED.
+BUT IT HAS NOT RECEIVED THE RECOGNITION IT DESERVES,+ HE
+THIS CONCESSION WAS OBTAINED AFTER INTENSE LOBBYING IN LONDON EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND THE MOST ENERGETIC INTERVENTION BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.+
MR SWAINE ENDED WITH A PLEA FOR MORE FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
+WE MUST NEVER ASSUME HONG KONG'S FRAGILITY BECAUSE OF 1997. BUT MUST ASSUME HONG KONG WILL REMAIN STRONG AND VIABLE BEYOND THAT DATE, HE URGED.
HE ALSO SUGGESTED THREE PRACTICAL WAYS IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF HONG KONG SHOULD THINK POSITIVELY ABOUT THE FUTURE AND TREAT 1997 NOT AS A TERMINAL DATE BUT A MILESTONE.
THESE ARE:
* THE GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE THE LEAD, AND ENSURE
FOR THE PURPOSES OF LAND RESUMPTION COMPENSATION, THAT LAND NORTH OF BOUNDARY STREET IS TREATED IN THE SAME WAY AS LAND TO THE SOUTH.
*
*
ACCOUNTANTS AND THE COMPANIES THEY ADVISE MUST GET AWAY FROM THE NOTION THAT LAND AND PLANT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES MUST BE WRITTEN DOWN IN THE BOOKS OF THE COMPANY TO 1997 AS THE TERMINAL DATE, AND THEY MUST BE PREPARED TO TREAT THEM IN THE SAME WAY AS IN THE URBAN AREAS.
BANKS AND FINANCE HOUSES WHICH LEND MONEY TO PROPERTY-BUYERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES MUST NOT TIE DOWN THEIR REPAYMENT SCHEDULES TO A PERIOD ENDING IN 1997, BUT SHOULD TREAT SUCH PROPERTY-PURCHASERS IN THE SAME WAY AS THE IR COUNTERPARTS IN THE URBAN AREAS.
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