XN000022-1994-07-07 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, JULY 7, 1994

GOVERNOR MAKES STATEMENT TO LEGCO

MR PRESIDENT,

THE

THE

LAST FRIDAY HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT PUBLISHED ITS OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE'S REPORT ON RELATIONS BETWEEN UNITED KINGDOM AND CHINA IN THE PERIOD UP TO AND BEYOND 1997. HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WAS FULLY CONSULTED ON THE HONG KONG ASPECTS I AM GLAD TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THESE ASPECTS TODAY.

AND

BEFORE TAKING QUESTIONS I SHOULD LIKE TO COMMENT BRIEFLY ON FOUR AREAS COVERED BY BOTH THE REPORT AND THE OBSERVATIONS ON THE REPORT. THESE AREAS ARE: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT; THE WORK OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP; CITIZENSHIP AND NATIONALITY; AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

I DO NOT PROPOSE TO DWELL ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. LAST WEEK THIS COUNCIL PASSED THE SECOND STAGE ELECTORAL BILL AFTER A FULL AND VIGOROUS DEBATE. THIS HAS DRAWN A WELCOME AND NECESSARY LINE UNDER THE ISSUE. WE NOW NEED TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO OTHER MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY; AND, WHEREVER POSSIBLE, WE WILL OF COURSE PURSUE THE COMMUNITY'S INTERESTS IN WAYS WHICH WILL HELP ΤΟ STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND CO-OPERATION WITH CHINA.

ONE AREA WHERE CO-OPERATION IS OF THE VERY GREATEST IMPORTANCE IS IN THE JLG. I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE WILL AGREE WITH THE FAC'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THERE IS A NEED TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS IN THAT FORUM. I AM THEREFORE PLEASED BY THE RESULTS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP THAT FINISHED LAST WEEK. IN PARTICULAR THE DEFENCE LANDS AGREEMENT, ACHIEVED AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF HARD NEGOTIATION, IS A GOOD ONE. IT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE TWO SIDES ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DETAILED AND BALANCED AGREEMENTS.

THERE WAS ANOTHER RESULT FROM THE JLG THAT WAS RATHER LOST IN THE EXCITEMENT OF THE DEFENCE LANDS DEAL, BUT TO WHICH I SHOULD LIKE TO DRAW MEMBERS' ATTENTION: THE JLG MADE SOME PROGRESS ON THE LOCALISATION OF LAWS. MEMBERS WILL RECALL THAT THE FAC REPORT RECOMMENDED THAT "IF CHINA CONTINUES TO BLOCK FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP

THERE CAN BE NO CHOICE BUT FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO PUT BEFORE LEGCO THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION TO ADAPT AND LOCALISE LEGISLATION PRIOR TO THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY.

AT THE LAST JLG, AGREEMENT WAS REACHED THAT UK LEGISLATION IN THREE IMPORTANT AREAS RELATING TO MERCHANT SHIPPING SHOULD BE LOCALISED IN HÙNG CÙNG. THE BILLS TO DO THIS WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THIS COUNCIL SHORTLY. AGREEMENT ON THREE ITEMS IS NOT ENOUGH, WE NEED TO MAKE MUCH FASTER PROGRESS. BUT AFTER MANY MEETINGS OF THE JLG WHERE ALMOST NO AGREEMENT AT ALL HAS BEEN REACHED ON THIS SUBJECT THIS LIMITED MOVEMENT IS WELCOME. I HOPE THAT THIS IS A SIGN THAT WE CAN LOOK ΤΟ FURTHER PROGRESS IN FUTURE.

THE THIRD AREA THAT I WISH TO MENTION RELATES TO CITIZENSHIP AND NATIONALITY. AS THE COUNCIL KNOW 1 FULLY SUPPORT THE FAC'S ARGUMENTS FOR FULL CITIZENSHIP FOR THE WIVES AND WIDOWS OF EX- SERVICEMEN AND FOR THE ETHNIC MINORITIES. I KNOW THAT MEMBERS ALSO SHARE THESE VIEWS AND HAVE PUT THEM VIGOROUSLY ΤΟ HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT. I WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS THE CASE FOR BOTH OF THESE GROUPS.

/THE FOURTH