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MR MAUDE: WELL, I THINK WE HAVE THE SAME LONG-TERM INTERESTS. WE MAY NOT SEE IT IN QUITE THE SAME WAY AT THE MOMENT, WHICH IS WHY WE SHALL CONTINUE TO TALK TO THEM, TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT THE INTENTION OF THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE, FAR FROM CREATING INSTABILITY, IS то RESPOND TO A DEEPLY FELT DESIRE AND NEED OF HONG KONG TO GIVE PEOPLE THE ASSURANCE TO STAY HERE. I THINK WE NEED TO CARRY ON EXPLAINING THAT TO THE CHINESE, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IF WE CARRY ON WE SHALL SUCCEED.

ARE

DEBORAH WANG: HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERISE THEIR RESPONSE, THEY SIMPLY BEING, DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND? IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING? OR ARE THEY SIMPLY BEING UNREASONABLE?

MR MAUDE: WELL.

I,

IT MAY BE THAT WE NEED TO CARRY ON EXPLAINING IT FURTHER. BUT THEY HAVE MISINTERPRETED I THINK, WELL I KNOW THEY HAVE MISINTERPRETED THE INTENTION BEHIND THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE, AND WE SHALL HOPE TO CORRECT THAT INTERPRETATION.

TAMMY LUK (SING TAO): BUT YOUR COLLEAGUE ROBERT ADLEY CRITICISED THAT WHAT YOU HAVE SAID OVER THE RIGHT OF ABODE IS PROVOKING THE CHINESE. WHAT IS YOUR COMMENT ON THAT?

MR MAUDE: WELL, I MADE A COMMENT ON THAT SHORTLY AFTER HE MADE THOSE REMARKS, AND BROADLY I DON'T FIND VERY MUCH SUPPORT FOR HIS POINT OF VIEW IN HONG KONG, I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY SUPPORT FOR HIS VIEW IN LONDON, ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOR IT IN PEKING.

STEVE VINES (OBSERVER): MR MAUDE, COULD YOU SAY WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE IF THE NATIONALITY BILL DOESN'T PASS THROUGH PARLIAMENT? YOU SAID THEY WOULD BE VERY SERIOUS FOR HONG KONG, COULD YOU SPELL IT OUT?

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MR MAUDE: WELL, I DON'T THINK I NEED TO SPELL THEM OUT. HAVE BROUGHT THIS PACKAGE FORWARD IN RESPONSE TO THE ARGUMENTS HONG KONG, THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR HONG KONG'S STABILITY. AND I HOPE THAT THOSE ARGUMENTS WILL BE AS PERSUASIVE WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN PARLIAMENT AS THEY HAVE BEEN WITH US.

PASS?

STEVE VINES: BUT WHAT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN IF THE BILL DOESN'T

MR MAUDE: WELL I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY POINT IN EXCESSIVE DOOM WATCHING AT THIS STAGE. HONG KONG IS A VERY RESILIENT PLACE, BUT IT HAS MADE A SPECIAL PLEA AND I THINK A PERSUASIVE FLEA. THAT THIS SET OF MEASURES IS NECESSARY. I BELIEVE IT IS NECESSARY, AND THAT IS THE ARGUMENT THAT I SHALL TAKE TO PARLIAMENT.

NORMAN REES (ITN): PUBLIC OPINION POLLS SEEM TO INDICATE THAT THE BRITISH PUBLIC, OR THE MAJORITY OF IT, SIMPLY DON'T WANT HONG KONG IMMIGRANTS. GIVEN THAT ATTITUDE, WHAT MAKES YOU SO CONFIDENT IN YOUR ASSERTION THAT THIS NATIONALITY PACKAGE WILL MAKE IT HOUSE?

THROUGH

THE

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