XN000022-1987-04-02 — Page 4

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1987

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THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1987 SEEKS TO DEFINE THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG+ TO INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO LAND AND TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG FREE OF CONDITIONS OF STAY AND TO BE FREE FROM REMOVAL OR DEPORTATION.

THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG AS DEFINED WILL BE ACCORDED TO A NEW CATEGORY OF PERSONS TO BE CALLED +HONG KONG PERMANENT RESIDENTS+ COMPRISING ALL PERSONS WHO ARE AT PRESENT DEFINED AS +HONG KONG BELONGERS+ OR +CHINESE RESIDENTS+.

THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO AMEND THE DEPORTATION PROVISIONS IN THE EXISTING ORDINANCE TO REMOVE +CHINESE RESIDENTS+ FROM THOSE WHO ARE DEPORTABLE FROM HONG KONG.

SUBJECT TO THE ENACTMENT OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, ABOUT FIVE MILLION HONG KONG RESIDENTS WILL BECOME + HONG KONG PERMANENT RESIDENTS+ AND WILL ENJOY THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG.

THEY WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A HONG KONG PERMANENT IDENTITY CARD STATING THEIR RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG FROM JULY 1, 1987 THEIR BN(0) PASSPORTS OR C OF 1'S ISSUED FROM THAT DATE WILL CONTAIN A RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT.

+RESIDENT BRITISH CITIZENS+ AND RESIDENT UNITED KINGDOM BELONGERS+ WILL NOT BE ACCORDED THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG UNDER THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION. BUT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE RIGHT TO LAND IN HONG KONG.

ISSUE OF PERMANENT IDENTITY CARDS STATING THE HOLDERS' RIGHT OF ABODE

UNDER THE EXISTING REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE, A HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD IS ONLY A PROOF OF IDENTITY. THE NEW IDENTITY CARDS TO BE ISSUED FROM JULY 1, 1987 WILL IN ADDITION REFLECT THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE HOLDER, THAT IS WHETHER OR NOT HE HAS THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG.

AT PRESENT, CHILDREN UNDER 11 YEARS OF AGE AND HONG KONG RESIDENTS OVERSEAS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HOLD AN IDENTITY CARD. BUT BOTH CATEGORIES WILL FROM JULY 1, 1987 HAVE TO APPLY FOR PERMANENT IDENTITY CARDS BEFORE THEY CAN BE ISSUED WITH OR BE INCLUDED IN BN(0) PASSPORTS OF C OF 'S WITH A RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT.

THE MAJOR PROVISIONS INTRODUCED BY THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 ARE INTENDED TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:

(B)

TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUE OF PERMANENT IDENTITY CARDS STATING THE HOLDERS' RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG TO PEOPLE WITH THAT RIGHT;

TO PROVIDE THE STATUTORY FRAMEWORK NECESSARY FOR ANOTHER IDENTITY CARD REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME FROM JULY 1, 1987;

/(C) TO EMPOWER