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MR RENTON: WELL, I MEAN, ON YOUR SECOND POINT, THE UK MEMORANDUM ON NATIONALITY, I MEAN IT DOES SPECIFICALLY NOT EXCLUDE THE PROVISION OF BRITISH CONSULAR PROTECTION AS I HAVE SAID FOR NON-CHINESE BN(0)'S OR BOC'S IN THE HONG KONG SAR. THERE IS A LIMIT TO WHICH WE CAN GO ON PROVIDING INDEFINITELY FOR THE POSITION OF PEOPLE AND, AS YOU WILL KNOW, THE JOINT DECLARATION COVERS ESSENTIALLY THE PROVISION OF BASIC LAW WHICH WILL THEN BE BINDING FOR 50 YEARS, AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR US TO CONTINUE THE POSITION BEYOND - WE CAN'T ENSURE THE POSITION AFTER THAT DATE, BUT I THINK THAT IN FACT THAT WHAT WE HAVE DONE ABOUT THE STATELESSNESS AND STATUS OF MINORITY GROUPS IS NOT AN UNSATISFACTORY ANSWER. I WOULD JUST LIKE FINALLY TO MAKE THE POINT TO YOU THAT THE POSITION IS EXACTLY THE SAME FOR BN (0)'S LIVING ABROAD ACTUALLY AS IT IS FOR BRITISH CITIZENS THEMSELVES.
QUESTION (BY HARVEY STOCKWIN): IN WHAT WAY?
MR RENTON WELL, I MEAN IN REGARD TO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT
CONSÚLAR PROTECTION. I MEAN, THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE ANY DIFFERENCE.
QUESTION (BY HARVEY STOCKWIN): YES, BUT BRITISH CITIZENS LIVING
WITH A BRITISH PASSPORT IN BRITAIN HAVE THE PROTECTION OF A NON-COMMUNIST BRITISH GOVERNMENT,
MR RENTON: YES, BUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING, WITH RESPECT, IS TALKING
ABOUT THE QUESTION OF CONSULAR PROTECTION OF PEOPLE LIVING ABROAD OF PEOPLE TRAVELLING ABROAD, AREN'T YOU.
QUESTION:
EMILY LAU FROM THE FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW: MR RENTON,
IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS WITH MEMBERS OF UMELCO, POLITICAL GROUPS, AND PRESSURE GROUPS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, IS IT YOUR OPINION THAT DEMOCRATIC REFORMS ACCORDING TO THOSE THAT ARE IN WESTERN COUNTRIES, FOR HONG KONG, DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD CREATE DIVISION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OR WOULD THAT BRING ABOUT CONSENSUS POLITICS?
MR RENTON: WOULD YOU MIND REPEATING YOUR QUESTION PLEASE?
QUESTION (BY EMILY LAU): WELL, BASED ON YOUR DISCUSSIONS WITH
LOCAL POLITICAL LEADERS AND BUDDING SO-CALLED POLITICAL GROUPS IS IT YOUR IMPRESSION THAT DEMOCRATIC WESTERN- STYLE REFORMS WILL BRING ABOUT CONSENSUS POLITICS OR WILL DIVIDE THE COMMUNITY?
MR RENTON,