XN000022-1984-09-27 — Page 18

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1984

LAWRENCE MACDONALD, ASIAWEEK:

Q. I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING NATIONALITY AND THE TWO MEMORANDA WHICH ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE AGREEMENT. FIRST OF ALL, THEY DRAW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN CHINESE NATIONALS AND NON-CHINESE NATIONALS IN HONG KONG AND I WONDER IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FOR LONG-TIME HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT ETHNIC CHINESE, EXACTLY WHAT THEIR STATUS WOULD BE. AND IN RELATION TO THAT I WONDER IF HONG KONG CHINESE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO BECOME CITIZENS OF THE PRC WILL HAVE SOME OPTION OPEN TO THEM OR WILL THEY BECOME STATELESS PERSONS?

A. FIRST OF ALL, THE STATUS OF A CHINESE NATIONAL OF COURSE IS EXPLAINED UNDER THE CHINESE NATIONALITY LAW - WHO IS OR MAY BECOME A CHINESE NATIONAL. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WHICH THIS DOES IS, IT ADOPTS A PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENT WHEREBY THOSE WHO ARE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS CAN HAVE A NEW STATUS WHICH ENTITLES THEM TO A BRITISH PASSPORT. I CAN UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE SOME WHO MAY WONDER WHETHER THEY WOULD BE LEFT STATELESS BUT YOU MAY BE SURE THAT FOR THE NON-HONG KONG CHINESE WHO WOULD NOT BECOME CHINESE NATIONALS IF THERE IS ANY QUESTION OF STATELESSNESS AN APPROPRIATE PROVISION WILL BE MADE FOR THEM IN BRITISH LEGISLATION.

Q.

BING WONG, OF TIME MAGAZINE: I AM REFERRING SPECIFICALLY TO TWO THINGS, TWO PERSONS, ONE IS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THE OTHER ONE IS THE CHIEF JUSTICE, FOR INSTANCE. WILL THERE BE ANYTHING DONE IN THE FUTURE TO PREVENT THESE TWO PERSONS BEING PULLED DOWN IF THEY DO THINGS THAT INVITE PEKING'S DISPLEASURE?

A. WELL, THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE SHALL BE A LOCAL INHABITANT AND IT MAKES PROVISION IN AS FAR AS IT'S POSSIBLE TO MAKE PROVISION THIS FAR AHEAD FOR THE FUTURE GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE. BUT, WHAT WE WILL BE DEALING WITH IS PEOPLE WHO WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO HONG KONG AND PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE, THERE ARE VERY CLEAR PROVISIONS COVERING BOTH HIS SELECTION AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH HE MIGHT BE REMOVED. SO, THE ASSURANCE IN THAT REGARD IS IN THE AGREEMENT.

Q. PHILIP HO, FINANCIAL DAILY: HOW WOULD THE FUTURE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE STATED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION INFLUENCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE IDEA OF A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT INITIATED BY THE GOVERNMENT?

A. I'M NOT QUITE SURE I FOLLOW THE LAST BIT, BUT IF YOU MEAN "HOW WILL THE ARRANGEMENT IN THE AGREEMENT AFFECT THE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH ARE INITIATED BY THE GOVERNMENT' -- WELL, AS I SAID LAST NIGHT THE ARRANGEMENTS SET OUT IN THE AGREEMENT ARE THE MAIN ESSENTIALS OF THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE FOR THE FUTURE AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT WE ARE PLANNING TO DO WHICH IS INCONSISTENT WITH THAT, AND INDEED, THEY WILL, THOSE ARRANGEMENTS, WILL ALLOW SCOPE FOR THE KIND OF DEVELOPMENT WHICH WE HAVE EMBARKED UPON.

19. VEN WEI PO: