IS
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN-SUPPLEMENT
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG TEL-5-233191
FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1985
THE HONG KONG BILL
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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE HONG KONG BILL WAS PUBLISHED IN LONDON A SHORT WHILE AGO, FOLLOWING ITS FIRST READING IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID: THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL IS TO ENABLE THE UK TO IMPLEMENT THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WHICH WAS SIGNED BY THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, MRS MARGARET THATCHER AND THE CHINESE PREMIER, MR ZHAO ZIYANG IN PEKING ON DECEMBER 19, 1984. BOTH SIDES WILL NOW MOVE TO BRING THE AGREEMENT INTO FORCE. AS PART OF THAT PROCESS THE BRITISH SIDE NEEDS TO ENACT LEGISLATION IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO RATIFY THE AGREEMENT BEFORE JUNE 30, 1985, AS PROVIDED FOR IN PARAGRAPH 8 OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.
+THE HONG KONG BILL PROVIDES FOR THE TERMINATION OF BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY AND OF BRITISH JURISDICTION WITH EFFECT FROM JULY 1, 1997.
+ THE BILL ALSO INCLUDES A PROVISION SEEKING AUTHORITY FOR HMG TO INTRODUCE AN ORDER OR ORDERS IN COUNCIL TO CREATE THE NEW FORM OF BRITISH NATIONALITY REFERRED TO IN THE UK MEMORANDUM ASSOCIATED WITH THE AGREEMENT, AND TO TAKE OTHER MEASURES CONSEQUENTIAL UPON OR CONNECTED WITH THIS. THESE INCLUDE THE TERMINATION OF BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZEN STATUS FOR THOSE PERSONS WHO ON JUNE 30, 1997 POSSESS IT BY VIRTUE OF THEIR CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG AND MEASURES TO PREVENT PEOPLE BECOMING STATELESS AS A RESULT OF THESE CHANGES.+
THE SPOKESMAN CONTINUED: +THE BILL ALSO ENABLES ORDERS IN COUNCIL TO MODIFY UNITED KINGDOM ENACTMENTS IN PREPARATION FOR OR CONSEQUENT UPON TERMINATION OF ITED KIGDOM SOVEREIGNTY AND JURISDICTION. THIS WILL ENABLE THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT TO MAKE TECHNICAL MODIFICATIONS TU UK LEGISLATION APPLICABLE TU HONG KONG. IT WILL ALSO EMPOWER THE HUNG KONG LEGISLATURE TU MAKE LAWS HAVING EXTRA TERRITORIAL OPERATIO.
THE DIKESAN