WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1987
4
THE BILL IS COMPLEMENTARY TO THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987, HE NOTED.
MR JEAFFRESON SAID THE TWO BILLS INTRODUCED IMPORTANT MEASURE 3 INTO HONG KONG LEGISLATION.
+FOR THE FIRST TIME THE TERM 'RIGHT OF ABODE WILL BE APPLIED IN LAW TO HONG KONG PEOPLE, HE EXPLAINED.
+SOME FIVE MILLION HONG KONG PEOPLE WILL BE ACCORDED THIS RIGHT WHICH WILL GIVE THEM THE RIGHT TO LAND AND REMAIN IN HONG KONG WITHOUT ANY IMMIGRATION RESTRICTIONS. THEY WILL NOT BE DEPORTABLE OR REMOVABLE FROM HONG KONG.
+THEY WILL BE DESCRIBED BY A NEW TERM 'HONG KONG PERMANENT RESIDENT'. THIS TERM WILL BE EASILY UNDERSTOOD. 'HONG KONG PERMANENT RESIDENTS WILL HAVE PERMANENT IDENTITY CARDS WHICH WILL BE EVIDENCE FOR ALL TO SEE THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG.
+THE ARRANGEMENTS TO BE INTRODUCED BY THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WILL HELP TOWARDS GUARANTEE ING HONG KONG PEOPLE'S TRAVELLING CONVENIENCE BEFORE AND AFTER 1997.+
MR JEAFFRESON SAID TO ENSURE THAT HOLDERS OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORTS AND OF CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY WOULD CONTINUE TO TRAVEL WITH THE SAME EASE AND CONVENIENCE IN THE TRANSITION PERIOD AND AFTER 1997, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA HAD DISCUSSED ARRANGEMENTS FOR THESE DOCUMENTS AND RELATED MATTERS IN THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP.
THE TWO GOVERNMENTS HAD AGREED THAT BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORTS MIGHT INCLUDE AN ENDORSEMENT INDICATING THE HOLDER'S RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG.
THE WORDING OF THE ENDORSEMENT AS AGREED BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS WAS: THE HOLDER OF THIS PASSPORT HAS HONG KONG PERMANENT IDENTITY CARD NUMBER (XYZ) WHICH STATES THAT THE HOLDER HAS THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG.+
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS WERE CONSISTENT WITH
THIS AGREEMENT, MR JEAFFRESON SAID.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ALSO RESULTED FROM THE HONG KONG (BRITISH NATIONALITY) ORDER 1986 WHICH GAVE EFFECT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM MEMORANDUM ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION AND WHICH ENABLED PASSPORTS IN THE NEW STATUS OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) TO BE ISSUED FROM JULY 1, 1987.
MR JEAFFRESON