XN000022-1985-01-22 — Page 28

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MR PETER BRUINVELS: (ANNOUNCER SPEAKS) ... I UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION OVER THE STATELESSNESS OF PEOPLE, THAT IS OBVIOUSLY SHOWING A CARING GOVERNMENT. WHAT I AM STILL WORRIED ABOUT IS - ARE THOSE BRITISH NATIONALS OVERSEAS TO HAVE A PRIORITY OVER ANY OTHER PEOPLE FROM ABROAD IN THEIR WISH AND DESIRE TO COME OVER TO THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR SETTLEMENT?

SIR GEOFFREY: NO, THERE IS NO INTENTION TO EFFECT OR IMPLY ANY CHANGE OF THAT KIND. WHAT IS INTENDED IS SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS AS ATTACH TO A BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY CITIZEN UNDER THE EXISTING STATE OF THE LAW WITH THE PRINCIPAL CHANGE OF WITHDRAWING THE RIGHT OF TRANSMISIBILITY FOR ONE GENERATION. BUT THERE IS NO CHANGE IMPLIED ALONG THE LINES MY HONOURABLE FRIEND IS SUGGESTING.

FINALLY PARAGRAPH 4 OF THE SCHEDULE ACCORDS DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES TO THE FIVE CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP WHO WILL ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS OF THE GROUP WHICH TAKE PLACE IN LONDON. WE NEED TO DO THIS TO FULFIL OUR OBLIGATION UNDER ANNEX II TO THE JOINT DECLARATION, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE CREATION OF A JOINT LIAISON GROUP OF FIVE BRITISH AND FIVE CHINESE MEMBERS TO MEET IN LONDON, PEKING AND HONG KONG. THE ANNEX PROVIDES THAT MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP WILL ENJOY DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES AS APPROPRIATE WHEN THE GROUP MEETS IN THE THREE LOCATIONS. EXISTING LEGISLATION WOULD NOT COVER THIS RATHER UNUSUAL CATEGORY OF REPRESENTATIVE, AND IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO LEGISLATE SPECIFICALLY. HONG KONG WILL NEED TO LEGISLATE SEPARATELY TO PROVIDE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES IN HONG KONG FOR THE CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP UNTIL 1997. APPROPRIATE MEASURES WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN FOR THE BRITISH MEMBERS OF THE GROUP THEREAFTER. IT WILL BE FOR THE CHINESE TO PROVIDE SIMILAR PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES TO THE BRITISH MEMBERS WHEN THE GROUP MEETS IN PEKING.

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MR SPEAKER, BEFORE CONCLUDING, LET ME SAY A WORD ABOUT THE FUTURE. THE SIGNATURE OF THE AGREEMENT, AND HOPE -

I THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL, LEADING TO RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT, REPRESENT THE BEGINNING OF A PROCESS, NOT THE END. THERE IS MUCH TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND 1997. IT WILL REQUIRE THE CLOSEST COOPERATION BETWEEN OURSELVES AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. IT WILL ALSO REQUIRE THE CLOSEST CONSULTATION THROUGHOUT WITH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

THE PROCESS OF CONSULTATION, WHICH HAS WORKED SO WELL THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATION OF THE AGREEMENT. WILL BE FURTHER ASSISTED BY THE PROGRESSIVE STRENGTHENING OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. AS THE HOUSE KNOWS, THE FIRST ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, AND THERE WILL BE A FURTHER PUBLIC REVIEW OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AND CONSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE IN TWO YEARS' TIME.

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