SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 1989
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OMELCO STAND REMAINS UNCHANGED
FOLLOWING IS THE CONTENT OF TODAY'S PRESS BRIEFING BY MRS ROSANNA TAM. CONVENER OF THE OMELCO SPECIAL WORKING GROUP ON NATIONALITY, AND MR STEPHEN CHEONG. MR RONALD ARCULLI AND DR LEONG CHE-HUNG:
"MEMBERS OF THE OMELCO SPECIAL WORKING GROUP ON NATIONALITY ARE NOT SURPRISED BY THE OUTCOME OF THE TWO SENIOR MEMBERS MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER YESTERDAY, INDEED. WE WOULD HAVE BEEN PLEASANTLY SURPRISED HAD THE PRIME MINISTER TAKEN A GREATER STEP TOWARDS HONG KONG'S POSITION.
"THE PRIME MINISTER SAID THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WERE WORKING TO GIVE 'PRACTICAL EXPRESSION TO THEIR PROMISE TO INTRODUCE GREATER FLEXIBILITY ON THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HK'. AND HOPED TO BE IN A POSITION TO MAKE A STATEMENT REASONABLY SOON'
"IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THE ACTION TO BE BRITAIN WILL INDEED BOOST CONFIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY.
TAKEN BY
"*FLEXIBILITY' IS NOT WHAT WE ASKED FOR. OUR STAND ON THIS ISSUE REMAINS UNCHANGED. AND THAT IS: BRITAIN HAS A MORAL OBLIGATION TO ENSURE A SAFE AND SECURE FUTURE FOR THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF HONG KONG. AND A DIRECT MORAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO RESTORE THE RIGHT OF ABODE TO ALL THE BRITISH SUBJECTS HERE.
"THE TWO SENIOR MEMBERS' VISIT TO LONDON IS THE BEGINNING OF OUR EFFORTS. WE WILL KEEP ON PRESSING FOR THE INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE NEED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC то CONTINUE EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERNS AND WISHES TO HMG THROUGH ALL AVAILABLE CHANNELS.
"WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTINUING SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY IN THIS ISSUE.
"THE TWO SENIOR MEMBERS WILL BRIEF OMELCO MEMBERS AT A SPECIAL IN-HOUSE MEETING ON MONDAY AT 11 AM. THEY WILL MEET THE MEDIA AT 12 PM. MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS TO COVER THE TWO SENIOR MEMBERS' ARRIVAL SUNDAY AT THE AIRPORT WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN DUE COURSE.
"EARLIER THIS MORNING. MEMBERS WERE BRIEFED BY THE DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATION. MR DONALD TSANG. ABOUT HIS RECENT VISIT TO LONDON.
ON
OF
"MR TSANG SAID HIS TRIP WAS AT THE INVITATION AND REQUEST OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. THE PURPOSE OF WHICH WAS TO PROVIDE DETAILED INFORMATION TO BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS, IN ORDER TO ASSIST THEM IN THEIR REVIEW OF THE CURRENT UK POLICY FOR ADMITTING HONG KONG BRITISH NATIONALS INTO THE UK.
"HE SAID THAT THE TALKS WERE TECHNICAL IN NATURE AND THAT THEY DEALT WITH THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT AND THE UK IMMIGRATION ACT AS APPLIED TO HONG KONG.
"HE REAFFIRMED THAT HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'
'S POSITION IS CLEAR THAT THE OBLIGATION OF HMG IS TOWARDS ALL BRITISH CITIZENS IN HONG KONG AND THAT THEY DID NOT BELIEVE IN THE CATEGORIZATION OF HONG KONG BRITISH NATIONALS. HE SAID THAT ANY CRUDE CATEGORIZATION WOULD TO BE DIVISIVE.
नम
TEND
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