5
WEIN ESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1985
THE
+ IN CONCLUSION, SIR, LET ME MAKE ONE FURTHER POINT. NATIONALITY PROVISIONS INCLUDED IN THE HONG KONG BILL ARE IN THE FORM OF ENABLING PROVISIONS. DETAILED PROVISIONS WILL BE INCLUDED IN AN ORDER-IN-COUNCIL TO BE MADE AT A LATER STAGE. THE MINISTER OF STATE, MR RICHARD LUCE, HAS INDICATED THAT A DRAFT OF THIS ORDER-IN-COUNCIL WILL BE PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT WITHIN A YEAR OF THE PASSAGE OF THE HONG KONG BILL AND THAT IT WILL BE FULLY DEBATED IN PARLIAMENT BEFORE IT BECOMES LAW. I CAN ASSURE HONOURABLE MEMBERS THAT THE DRAFT ORDER-IN-COUNCIL WILL BE PUBLICISED IN HONG KONG ONCE IT IS INTRODUCED INTO PARLIAMENT, SO THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG CAN SEE FOR THEMSELVES THE DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS THAT WILL BE MADE, AND GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON THEM IF THEY WISH.+
'APPROPRIATE STATUS FOR BDTCS IMPORTANT'
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IT WAS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS (BDTCS) WOULD RETAIN AN APPROPRIATE STATUS WHICH ENTITLED THEM TO CONTINUE TO USE PASSPORTS ISSUED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WITH EFFECT FROM JULY 1, 1997, THE HON ANDREW SO SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE AJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE PROPOSED TITLE OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS), MR SO SAID THE INTRODUCTION OF THE HONG KONG BILL AND THE DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT INDICATED THAT THE UNITED KINGDOM WAS EARNEST IN IMPLEMENTING THE AGREEMENT AND FULFILLING HER COMMITMENT IN THE MEMORANDUM SO THAT ALL THOSE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WHO ON JULY 1, 1997 WOULD CEASE TO BE BDTCS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO RETAIN AN APPROPRIATE STATUS.
+THIS IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE AND CAN BE REGARDED AS THE TOUCHSTONE FOR ALL THE COMMITMENTS IN THE AGREEMENT, HE SAID.
+ IT IS NOT ONLY A MATTER OF CONCERN FOR OVER THREE MILLION EDTCS IN HONG KONG, BUT ALSO SOMETHING ON WHICH ALL THE FIVE MILLION-ODD PEOPLE OF HONG KONG SHOULD FOCUS THE IR ATTENTION,+ HE ADDED.
UNFORTUNATELY, NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE HAD EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE ISSUE AND PUT FORWARD THEIR VIEWS. THEY INTENDED TO THINK THAT THE DUST HAD SETTLED AND BELIEVED IN THE THEORY OF FATE, HE SAID.
WHILE POSITION AND FAME MIGHT SOUND TRIVIAL, THE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT WAS HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT.
WHEN THE 'NAME' WAS NOT RIGHT, 'MOVEMENT' WOULD NOT BE TOO SMOOTH.
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