TUESDAY, JULY 15, 1986
ASKED ABOUT HONG KONG RESIDENTS' FREEDOM TO TRAVEL IN FUTURE, SIR EDWARD SAID THAT THE AGREEMENT DID SAY THAT THEY COULD TRAVEL FREELY USING DOCUMENTS WHICH MIGHT BE PASSPORTS ISSUED BY THE CHINESE TO THEIR CHINESE NATIONALS OR THOSE ISSUED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY CITIZENS.
THE LATTER PASSPORTS WOULD HAVE AN ENDORSEMENT WHICH MADE CLEAR THE HOLDERS HAD THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.
+ WE ARE NOW SORTING OUT THE DETAILS, THIS WITH THE CHINESE, AND WE WOULD EXPECT IN 1987 TO START ISSUING THESE NEW PASSPORTS AND MAKING REPRESENTATIONS AROUND THE WORLD BECAUSE WE REALISE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL ON THEM SHOULD STILL HAVE FREE ACCESS TO OTHER COUNTRIES,+ SIR EDWARD SAID.
WHEN ASKED ABOUT PROGRESS IN DRAFTING THE BASIC LAW, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE CONTENTS WERE BEING DISCUSSED BY THE APPROPRIATE PARTIES IN THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE AND THE BASIC LAW CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE.
+ WE WOULD EXPECT THE FIRST DRAFT TO APPEAR IN 1988 OR THEREABOUTS. THAT IS LARGELY A MATTER FOR THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN US. +
CONCERNING HONG KONG'S LEGAL SYSTEM, WHICH WAS THE COMMON LAW LEGAL SYSTEM, SIR EDWARD SAID IT WOULD INDEED CONTINUE.
BEYOND PERHAPS ONE OR TWO CHANGES, HE EXPECTED ALL THE BUSINESS LAWS AND THE LAWS WHICH CONTINUED THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS AND OBLIGATIONS OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WOULD CONTINUE AS THEY WERE NOW.
27 UNOFFICIALS TO SPEAK ON DAYA BAY *****
TWENTY-SEVEN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL SPEAK IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE MATTER OF HONG KONG AND THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER PROJECT+ IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
FOUR BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR THEIR FIRST AND SECOND READING AT THE MEETING. THEY ARE: THE SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION (1985-86) BILL 1986, THE FIRE SERVICES (AMENDMENT)(NO. 3) BILL 1986, THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986, AND THE PHARMACY AND POISONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986.
BILLS DUE FOR COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING INCLUDE THE BANKRUPTCY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986, THE THEFT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986, AND THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING BILL 1986.
/THE FINANCIAL