XN000022-1985-12-11 — Page 27

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1985

+NO EFFORT SPARED ON PASSPORT ISSUE+

*****

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL SPARE NO EFFORT IN URGING THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO DO ITS UTMOST TO ENSURE THAT HOLDERS OF THE NEW BN(0) PASSPORT WILL ENJOY THE SAME CONVENIENCE OF TRAVEL AS HOLDERS OF THE EXISTING BDTC PASSPORTS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR THOMAS ASSURED HIS UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES THAT THEIR VIEWS ON THIS ISSUE HAD BEEN SENT TO LONDON,

WHILE IT MUST BE FOR INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO HOLD THE NEW BN(0) PASSPORT TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANTED TO APPLY FOR ONE BEFORE 1997 HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD EXPLAIN TO THOSE ELIGIBLE AS CLEARLY AS POSSIBLE THE ADVANTAGES OF HOLDING THE NEW PASSPORT, THE OPTIONS OPEN TO THEM AND THE MECHANICS FOR PROCURING IT.

ON THE ISSUE OF A CHINESE VERSION OF THE STATUE LAW OF HONG KONG, MR THOMAS NOTED THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO MAKE A START, IN DUE COURSE, ON PRODUCING AN AUTHENTIC CHINESE VERSION OF THE EXISTING STATUTE LAW+.

1 WAS

+ IN THE COURSE OF MY VISIT TO PEKING IN SEPTEMBER, STRUCK BY THE INTEREST SHOWN IN THIS PROJECT AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT I WAS GIVEN TO BRING IT ABOUT, HE ADDED.

POINTING OUT THAT THIS WAS +AN ENORMOUS TASK WHICH REQUIRED CAREFUL PLANNING, MR THOMAS SAID OFFICERS OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAD ALREADY PUT IN A GREAT DEAL OF WORK TOWARDS MAKING A START.

HE SAID: +A REPORT ON OUR PLANS AND THE PROGRESS MADE WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR.

+WORKING DRAFTS OF THE LEGISLATION TO AMEND THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ORDINANCE AND THE INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY BASIS FOR A BILINGUAL SYSTEM HAVE BEEN PREPARED.+

HE SAID THAT BECAUSE THE CHINESE AND ENGLISH VERSIONS OF THE STATUTE WOULD BE EQUALLY AUTHENTIC, IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY SHOULD BE IDENTICAL IN MEANING.

ON CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENT WHICH CONTRAVENED THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION ORDIANCE AND THE UNDES IRABLE MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENT ORDINANCE, MR THOMAS SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S PRIME CONCERN MUST BE THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND NOT THE PROTECTION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

AND HE WAS NOT AWARE, HE SAID, OF ANY GREAT CONCERN BE ING EXPRESSED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ABOUT THESE ADVERTISEMENTS.

/REFERRING TO