Government to study speech on right of abode carefully
In response to press enquiries on the speech by the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Mr Lu Ping, today (Friday) on the right of abode for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region residents, a Government spokesman said the Government would study Director Lu's speech carefully.
"The speech underlines the complexities of this subject," he said.
"As we have said before, we need to have early discussion with Chinese experts on the precise arrangements to implement the assurance, given by Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, that those who have a right of abode in Hong Kong now will be able to retain it after 1997.
"It is important that expert discussions take place early, since the Immigration Department will have to implement whatever arrangements will be decided."
The spokesman added that early resolution of the "right of abode" issue would be important for the confidence of those who were affected.
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COMAC's jurisdiction widened
The Housing Society, the Land Development Corporation, the Airport Authority and the Vocational Training Council have been brought within the jurisdiction of the Commissioner for Administrative Complaints (COMAC) by an amendment order published in the Gazette today (Friday).
A Government spokesman said that the four public bodies constitute the second batch of statutory bodies to be included under COMAC's jurisdiction since June 1994 when the COMAC Ordinance was amended after review. "This is in line with the Administration's policy to underline the public accountability of public bodies," he
said,