XN000022-1990-04-07 — Page 2

SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1990

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NATIONALITY PACKAGE HELPS STABILITY AND PROSPERITY SIR DAVID FORD

THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE WOULD DO A GREAT DEAL TO STABILIZE THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG AND HELP STABILITY AND PROSPERITY FOR THE FUTURE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

THE CHIEF SECRETARY WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS DURING HIS VISIT ΤΟ MAI PO MARSHES ON HOW THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE AFFECTED THE CIVIL SERVICE.

SIR DAVID SAID: "I THINK WE WOULD BE FACING A QUITE SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THE CIVIL SERVICE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LEAVING UP TILL 1997 AND INDEED BEYOND 1997 UNLESS WE HAD PROVIDED SOME ASSURANCE FOR PEOPLE IN THE SERVICE WHICH WOULD ENABLE THEM TO STAY.

"THE BASIC LAW PUTS DOWN THAT THE 30 POSTS MUST BE OCCUPIED BY CHINESE NATIONALS AND I AM SURE THERE WILL BE A LARGE NUMBER OF SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS WHO WILL NOT WISH TO COMPROMISE THEIR NATIONALITY BY TAKING PASSPORTS.

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"BUT AS FAR AS THE REST OF THE CIVIL SERVICE IS CONCERNED THE 180 000 PEOPLE THERE ARE NO NATIONALITY RESTRICTIONS AND Ι THINK PEOPLE WILL REQUIRE THAT DEGREE OF REASSURANCE.

"IT DOES NOT MEAN TO SAY THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING PASSPORTS ARE IN ANYWAY NOT BEING LOYAL TO HONG KONG, NOT BEING LOYAL TO THE BASIC LAW, OR INDEED NOT HAVING RESPECT FOR CHINA.

"THE CIVIL SERVICE HAS ALL THOSE QUALITY. IN PARTICULAR, IT HAS A GREAT DEAL OF LOYALTY TOWARDS HONG KONG. I THINK THEREFORE THE PACKAGE WILL DO A GREAT DEAL TO HELP PROVIDE STABILITY WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG AND SO HELP HONG KONG FOR THE FUTURE.

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HOPE THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL SEE THE PACKAGE IN THAT LIGHT," SIR DAVID SAID.

MINISTER TO DEAL WITH FOUR MAIN ISSUES

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MR

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, FRANCIS MAUDE, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) HE WOULD DEAL WITH FOUR MAIN ISSUES DURING HIS FIVE-DAY VISIT TO HONG KONG.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT SHORTLY AFTER HIS ARRIVAL, MR MAUDE SAID: "I SHALL BE TALKING ABOUT THE NATIONALITY BILL WE'VE JUST INTRODUCED THROUGH THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,"

THAT

/"I SHALL